Victoria's face turned completely pale as she glanced up toward the corner camera.
She quickly tried to recover her composure and pulled her silk shawl tight.
"That camera is just a fake plastic shell for security display!" Victoria insisted loudly.
"It does not record anything happening in this foyer at all!" she added hurriedly.
Elena shook her head slowly as a tight smile touched her trembling lips.
"Your husband updated the entire security system three weeks ago," Elena replied firmly.
"Every camera in this estate records full high-definition video to a server," she explained.
The guests in the hallway began whispering even louder as they watched Victoria sweat.
An older gentleman wearing a gray suit stepped forward from the small crowd.
His name was Arthur Vance, a well-known local lawyer and family trustee.
"If there is video evidence, we should look at it before anyone goes to jail," Arthur insisted.
Victoria glared at Mr. Vance with furious anger burning in her dark eyes.
"This is my private home, and I will not be insulted by a maid!" Victoria snapped.
Just then, the front double doors opened wide as heavy footsteps echoed inside.
Two local police officers entered the house with bright silver handcuffs on their belts.
They looked around at the tense crowd gathering inside the grand marble entrance hall.
"We received a call about a high-value theft at this address," the lead officer stated.
Victoria immediately changed her tone and rushed over to the officers with fake tears.
"Officer, thank goodness you arrived so quickly!" she sobbed into her silk sleeve.
"This girl stole my half-million-dollar diamond necklace right from my box!" she claimed.
"She even physically attacked me when I confronted her about it!" Victoria whimpered.
The officer turned his gaze toward Elena, who stood calm despite her glowing cheek.
"Ma'am, is this true? Did you take the jewelry?" the officer asked sternly.
"No officer, I did not touch her necklace," Elena answered with a steady voice.
"I request that you check the central computer monitor in the private office first," she added.
Victoria stepped in front of the hallway leading toward the master office doors.
"I forbid anyone from entering my private office without a warrant!" Victoria shouted.
The officer raised an eyebrow and looked closely at Victoria's nervous body language.
"Mrs. Montgomery, if a crime was committed, evidence must be secured," he said.
Arthur Vance stepped up next to the police officer and pulled out his phone.
"I have direct access to the estate server password as the family lawyer," Arthur noted.
Victoria's hands began shaking visibly as she backed away toward the staircase.
Elena felt a small spark of hope begin to grow deep inside her heavy heart.
She knew that the truth was about to come out into the light of day.
The officer gestured for Arthur to lead the way down the wide carpeted hallway.
Everyone in the entrance room followed behind in total silence to see the video.