Chapter 27 Eric

"Cassandra, I know Ariele. She's not a thief. Furthermore, this ring is exclusive to the royal mafia families. How do you know Ariele stole your ring? She may be the daughter of someone from the mafia, we don't know her origins. Do you have any proof of that? It must be similar; we will investigate," I asked, keeping my voice calm and controlled.

Cassandra sighed, clearly frustrated with my lack of cooperation.

"I have no proof, but I'm sure it was her. She's the only one who has been in my room recently. My ring disappeared, and she has one just like it."

I wasn't convinced.

"Cassandra, I need to talk to Ariele. And what if she really didn't steal your ring? Have you thought about that possibility? If you're accusing someone of such a serious crime, you need concrete evidence," I said, looking into Cassandra's eyes with determination.

Cassandra let out an ironic laugh.

"You're very naive, Eric. That's not how things work in our family. Sometimes, we need to use more... drastic methods to get what we want," she said, implying that she might take extreme measures if I didn't cooperate with her.

I knew Cassandra was capable of doing anything to get what she wanted, but I wouldn't bow to her threats.

"I won't let you accuse Ariele of a crime without concrete evidence. If you have any proof, show it to me. Otherwise, I can't help you," I said, standing up from the bed and preparing to leave the room.

Cassandra stared at me with hatred, but she knew I wouldn't yield to her pressures.

"You'll regret this, Eric. Don't underestimate the power of a scorned woman," she said, with a malicious smile on her face. "Now, go check the evidence, bring the ring here, and I'll prove it's the same."

I knew Cassandra was furious with me, but I didn't care. My priority was to protect Ariele and ensure she wasn't unjustly accused of a crime she didn't commit.

I returned to the room where Ariele was sitting on the bed, looking worried.

"Ariele, I need you to give me the ring," I said, keeping my voice calm.

"What's going on, Eric?" she asked, furrowing her brow.

"Cassandra accuses you of stealing her ring. She's convinced that you have the ring given only to the daughters and wives of doms in the mafia court. I need to prove her wrong," I said, with a serious expression.

Ariele looked at me, her eyes widened, and she touched her neck where the ring was. She took off the ring and handed it to me.

"I swear I didn't steal this ring, Eric. It was a gift from the Mother Superior at the convent. She said it was left with my belongings at the convent's door," she said, looking downcast.

I looked at the ring in my hand. It was a magnificent ring with a unique diamond, and I knew it was one of the most precious rings in existence.

"Cassandra is certain that this is her ring. But you're telling me it's not?" I asked, looking at Ariele, concerned about her having such a valuable ring.

"I wouldn't steal, Eric. I swear on everything sacred," she said, looking directly into my eyes.

I believed Ariele. I trusted her. But I also knew I had to resolve this issue with Cassandra. I knew she wouldn't let this accusation go unanswered.

"I'll take this ring to Cassandra and prove that it's not the one she lost," I said, giving Ariele a reassuring smile.

She nodded, grateful, and I left the room with the ring in my hand, ready to face Cassandra once again.

I was tense and anxious as I waited for Cassandra to bring the supposed photo showing her wearing the ring she claimed was stolen. When she finally entered the room, she held a cellphone and showed me the photo.

"Here it is, Eric. This is a photo I took last week during a family dinner. Look at the finger; I'm wearing the ring I said was stolen."

I looked at the photo and clearly saw the ring Cassandra wore on her index finger. My heart raced, and anger welled up in me. How was this possible? How could Ariele have stolen the ring?

"It can't be... Ariele said this ring was given to her by the Mother at the convent. How could she have stolen it?"

"Eric, don't be naive. You know Ariele is capable of anything to get what she wants. She's always been like that since she joined our family. It's not surprising that she would steal my ring to show off," Cassandra said.

I knew Cassandra had a history of issues with Ariele, but I couldn't believe she would lie about such an important theft. On the other hand, the photo was undeniable proof that the ring was the same.

"I... I don't know what to think. I need to talk to Ariele and find out what really happened."

"Of course, Eric. Talk to her. But don't be surprised if she tries to deceive you with some flimsy excuse."

I didn't reply. I just took the cellphone from Cassandra's hand and looked at the photo again. I couldn't believe that Ariele might be capable of stealing something so important to our family. But I also couldn't dismiss the possibility that Cassandra was lying. I needed to discover the truth.

I returned to my room and closed the door, needing some time alone to sort out my thoughts. The situation with Cassandra and Ariele was driving me crazy. I couldn't believe Ariele would steal the ring, but the photo Cassandra showed was undeniable.

I knew I needed to talk to Ariele, but I couldn't face her after what had happened. I could feel the disappointment on her face when I asked her to go to her room. I tried to be polite and kind, but I couldn't help but be cold.

I knew Ariele didn't deserve this; she had nothing to do with the situation. But I needed to resolve this before it got worse. I needed to find out the truth about the ring and help clear Ariele's name.

I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind. I needed clarity to think of a solution. I needed to find more information.

I got up from the bed and walked to my desk, picking up my cellphone and searching our files for information about the mafia ring. I found some information, but nothing that could help me in the current situation.

I sighed and lay down again, looking at the ceiling. I needed a plan; I needed to find a way to discover the truth. And I knew I couldn't do it alone. I needed help, and in the morning, I would talk to Josef.