Ethan: Marcus, turn on the main display screen on the fireplace mantel right now.
The house manager nodded quickly, pulling a small silver remote control from his suit pocket and aiming it toward the wall[cite: 1]. A flat-screen television mounted above the white fireplace mantel clicked on, flashing a bright blue light before switching to the mansion's high-definition security camera feed[cite: 1].
Victoria: What are you doing, Ethan? We don't need to waste time looking at security tapes! The evidence is sitting right there in her purse!
Ethan: If she stole it from the dressing room, the hallway camera will show her walking inside. It's that simple.
Victoria: The cameras in the hallway were turned off for the private event! My father requested privacy for the board members!
Ethan: The cameras in the public halls are never turned off, Victoria. My estate security runs twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Victoria's face tightened, her red lipstick contrasting sharply with her suddenly pale skin. She shifted her weight on her high heels, her eyes darting nervously toward the front exit doors.
Victoria: This is ridiculous. I'm taking my necklace and going home. I don't have to stay here and be questioned like a suspect.
Ethan: You aren't going anywhere until we watch this footage. Marcus, rewind the feed from the west corridor to twenty minutes ago.
Lily: Thank you, sir...[cite: 1] Thank you so much for checking[cite: 1].
Ethan: Keep quiet for a moment, Lily. Let the tape speak for itself.
The screen flickered, showing the high-key luxury hall from a wide overhead angle[cite: 1]. On the video, the brown leather handbag could be seen sitting unattended on a small marble side table near the catering station[cite: 1]. A few seconds later, a figure in a black leather dress walked slowly into the frame[cite: 1].
Annette: Wait... who is that on the screen?[cite: 1]
Ethan: Keep watching, Annette. The picture is getting clearer.
On the television, the blonde woman in the black leather dress looked left and right, ensuring no one was paying attention[cite: 1]. She pulled a velvet jewelry pouch from her own pocket, unzipped the maid's brown leather purse, and slid the diamond necklace inside before carefully closing the bag and walking away[cite: 1]. An electronic security chime rang out from the TV speakers as the footage paused on a clear close-up of Victoria's face[cite: 1].
Ethan: You framed her! The camera caught everything![cite: 1]
The hall erupted into gasps of total shock[cite: 1]. Victoria's eyes went wide with pure panic, her mouth dropping open as every guest turned to glare at her in utter disgust[cite: 1].
Victoria: No... no, that's not... that video was altered! Someone edited that footage to ruin my reputation!
Ethan: Stop lying, Victoria! The timestamp is live, and the feed came directly from my encrypted server! You planted that necklace in her bag yourself!