Chapter 38 Sebastian’s POV
Chapter 38 Sebastian’s POV
I didn’t know where to start. Or what to do.
The watch. It had been found in Lily’s bag. Every voice around me insisted she had taken it, accused her of theft, of deceit, of betrayal. Even the evidence seemed against her. And yet… I knew Lily. I had worked with her every day, watched her move through this house with integrity and quiet intelligence. She wasn’t a thief. She would never steal.
The accusations bounced around my head like bullets. Victoria’s voice was sharp, Celine’s cruel, the maids echoing their outrage. And Nina… that girl’s testimony added weight to the frame. I felt my jaw tighten. Something about all of this didn’t add up.
I looked at Lily, standing there, exhausted, terrified, and hurt. Her eyes wide, innocent, pleading made it impossible to believe she was guilty. My instincts screamed it, but the scene before me, the evidence, the testimonies , it was overwhelming.
“Drey,” I said quietly, pulling him aside. “Check the CCTV footage. I need to see how this happened.”
Drey’s brow furrowed. “Sir… the cameras stopped recording about an hour ago. Seems like someone tampered with them before this.”
I clenched my fists. That confirmed my suspicions. Whoever had set this up had done their homework. They knew the cameras, knew how to create the perfect frame. It had been meticulous, calculated… and dangerous.
I exhaled slowly, my mind racing. Lily had been with me for months, and she had never given me a reason to doubt her. She had always been trustworthy, honest, and loyal. If she wanted to steal, she would have done it long ago. This was different. Someone wanted to ruin her. Or worse… test me.
I glanced at the crowd again. The maids were still shouting, Victoria’s face red with fury, Celine smirking with that self-satisfied look she always wore when chaos unfolded. The tension in the room was suffocating. Everyone demanded a verdict now punishment, expulsion, justice but my mind refused to move that fast. I had to think. Carefully. Strategically.
“Tomorrow,” I said finally, my voice cutting through the chaos. “Tomorrow, I will decide what needs to be done and what punishment, if any, she deserves. But until then… she stays here.”
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Victoria’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Why not now?” she demanded. “What if she escapes? She’s capable of it. If she can steal, she can do anything!”
I raised an eyebrow. “She won’t escape,” I said calmly. “She will remain in the house, under supervision. Three guards will watch her. And believe me if she tried anything, she would not get far.”
Celine laughed, her tone dripping with malice. “What if she seduces the men? Who knows what she’s capable of? She can use her body for anything.”
I turned to face them, my voice low and dangerous. “Enough. Everyone return to work. Now.”
The maids hesitated, then slowly retreated. The tension in the room didn’t vanish, but it simmered down, leaving only a charged silence.
I motioned for the guards to take Lily away. She moved quietly, her eyes fixed on me as she passed. I could feel her pain, her fear, her innocence radiating toward me. My chest tightened. She had been set up perfectly, but she remained upright, silent, trying to maintain her composure.
Once the hallway emptied, I turned back to Drey.
“Find the thief,” I said. “And get evidence , real evidence this time. Repair the cameras if you have to. I want to know who did this and how they managed to frame her so perfectly.”
Drey nodded. “Understood, sir. I’ll start immediately.”
I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a low sigh. I had to play it smart. I couldn’t show doubt or weakness. Lily didn’t deserve this, but I also needed to catch the real culprit. I had to protect her reputation and my household.
Later, after the staff had dispersed, I found her sitting quietly in her room. She looked up as I entered, her eyes tired but still luminous with that unwavering innocence I trusted more than any evidence or testimony.
“Lily,” I said softly, closing the door behind me. “I know you’re not lying. I know you would never lie to me.”
She blinked, relief flooding her expression. “Thank you, Mr. Sebastian… for believing me.”
I stepped closer, my voice soft but firm. “I had to play along, to make sure the thief didn’t know I was onto them. Don’t think for a second that I doubted you.”
Her lips curved into a small, grateful smile. “Well… I’ll help you find the truth. But if I do, what will you do to… pay me back? You can’t just say ‘thank you.’ That won’t be enough.”
I smirked. “Hmm… and what exactly do you expect, Lily?”
She tilted her head, her voice playful but cautious. “Well… what do you want, Mr. Sebastian?”
I took another step closer, closing the small distance between us. My eyes locked on hers. “You’ll spend extra time with me after your working hours. And this isn’t a request. It’s a command. I will let you go only when I say so.”
Her eyes widened in mock horror. “Wh-what? You… what are you doing?”
I smirked wider, enjoying the faint blush that rose to her cheeks. “Exactly what I said. Extra time. After work. No excuses.”
She hesitated for a moment, then her lips curved into a reluctant smile. “Ohhh… okay.”
The air between us shifted. For a brief moment, the tension of the earlier chaos melted away, replaced by a quiet understanding. She was safe for now. And I would make sure of it. But I couldn’t forget. Whoever had tried to frame her would pay. And they would pay dearly.
I left her room with a final glance, my mind already racing with plans. Drey would track down the thief, repair the cameras, and gather evidence. Victoria and Celine had made their move, but it had failed. Lily’s innocence remained intact. And I would make sure it stayed that way.
The night was far from over, and the battle had just begun but one thing was certain: anyone who dared to harm her in my house would regret it.
And Lily… she didn’t even know how safe she really was.