Chapter 152 Doubt

Chapter 152 Doubt
"Where is the corporation contract folder, Mas?" Rose asked, her voice trembling. Her hands frantically dug through the stack of papers on the dressing table.
Evan, who had just stepped out of the bathroom, froze. He dried his hair with a small towel. "Didn't you put it in your briefcase last night?"
"It's not there! I checked the bag, the desk, even the closet, but it's gone," Rose said. Her breathing turned shallow and quick. She gripped the edge of the dressing table to steady her weakening body.
Casey walked softly toward the slightly open bedroom door. In her hands was a tray filled with Rose's freshly ironed clothes. Without making a sound, she listened to the panic spreading through the room.
Evan approached his wife, placing both hands on her shoulders. "Calm down first, Rose. Try to think back. You just got back from your trip last night. Maybe you forgot and left it in the downstairs study?"
"I am not that careless! That document was in my red bag last night," Rose cut in. Tears welled in her eyes. She rummaged through her handbag once more, tossing her wallet and lipstick onto the bed. "It isn't just that folder. The diamond ring your mother gave me is missing from the jewelry box, too."
Evan frowned. "Isn't that ring always in the locked drawer?"
Rose shook her head rapidly. Her hand shook as she held up the empty velvet jewelry box. "I am certain I put it here last night after taking it off. But now it's gone."
Casey knocked softly on the door twice. "Excuse me, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Evan. I'm sorry to interrupt."
Evan turned. "What is it, Casey?"
"I brought the ironed clothes," Casey said in a very gentle tone. She stepped inside and set the stack of folded clothes on the small sofa. Her eyes met Rose's with a look of genuine concern. "You look very pale, Ma'am. Is something missing?"
"My document folder and ring are gone, Casey," Rose said. She sank onto the edge of the bed, pressing her hands to her head as a sudden headache hit. "Did you see them when you cleaned this room this morning?"
Casey slowly shook her head. Her face displayed a fitting look of guilt. "I didn't see any documents on the desk, Ma'am. But if I may be honest, last night I saw you walking toward the kitchen holding a few files. You looked extremely tired and sleepy at the time."
Rose looked up, staring at Casey in confusion. "I went to the kitchen with files? Did I really? I don't remember that at all."
"Yes, Ma'am. Around one in the morning," Casey said, her eyes clear and unblinking. "You even greeted me briefly before going back into the study."
Rose pressed her palm against her forehead. Confusion took complete hold of her mind. Was the sheer exhaustion from her business trip causing her memory to slip?
Evan looked at Rose with deep concern. He sat beside his wife and rubbed her back. "You are just too exhausted, Rose. Lack of sleep is ruining your focus."
"But I truly feel like I put it right here," Rose whispered. Her voice grew increasingly unsure of itself. Her self-confidence crumbled instantly.
"How about I help look in the downstairs study, Ma'am?" Casey offered politely. "Just in case you misplaced them there without realizing it."
Rose nodded helplessly. "Please do, Casey."
Casey bowed her head briefly and left the room. She walked down the corridor with steady steps. Once she reached Evan and Rose's shared study on the ground floor, she walked behind the large bookcase. From between thick, rarely touched volumes, Casey retrieved the thick document folder and the velvet jewelry box she had hidden there the night before.
Casey let out a faint smile. She slipped the jewelry box back under a stack of business magazines on the desk, then placed the document folder right beside the printer.
After ensuring the items looked naturally misplaced, Casey left the study and called out to Rose from below.
"Mrs. Rose! I found them!" Casey called out with a crafted tone of relief.
Hurried footsteps sounded on the stairs. Rose rushed down with Evan right behind her. Rose's face was filled with hope.
"Where, Casey?" Rose asked quickly.
Casey pointed toward the desk. "This folder was beside the printer, covered by some blank paper. And the jewelry box was under the business magazines."
Rose immediately grabbed the folder and opened it. The documents were completely intact inside. She then opened the velvet box to find her diamond ring sparkling inside. Rose caught her breath. She stared at the items, her face pale with disbelief.
"How could they be here?" Rose muttered, bewildered. "I don't recall ever putting them here last night."
Evan took the jewelry box from Rose's hands, staring at his wife with deepening concern. "Rose, you really need to rest. You're forgetting where you put valuable things like this."
"But I genuinely don't remember," Rose said, her voice trembling. Her confidence shattered completely. She began to fear her own mind.
Casey stepped closer to Rose, looking at her with deep sympathy. "Please don't push yourself too hard, Ma'am. It's only natural for your memory to be a little hazy with how heavy your workload has been lately."
Rose looked at Casey, then turned her gaze to Evan. "Am I really this young to start becoming forgetful?"
"You aren't becoming forgetful, Rose. You are just overworked," Evan said firmly. He wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders. "I'm going to have a doctor check your physical condition if you stay stressed like this."
Casey lowered her head for a moment, hiding the flash of satisfaction in her eyes. Her hidden message had taken root in their minds. Rose now doubted herself, while Evan began to view his wife as emotionally and physically unstable.
Casey raised her head again, adopting a worried expression. "Mr. Evan is right, Ma'am. If you need to rest, please let me handle all the household needs and the children today."
Rose let out a long breath, leaning her head against Evan's chest. "Thank you, Casey. I don't know what state this house would be in without you."
Evan glanced at Casey briefly, then turned back to Rose. His concern for his wife clouded the slight suspicion that had previously sparked against the new nanny.
"Rest in the bedroom, Rose. Let me stay with the kids," Evan said softly.
As Evan guided Rose back toward the stairs, Casey stood quietly in the study. She watched the couple's backs as they slowly walked away.
"A single seed of doubt is enough to tear down a strong foundation," Casey whispered to the quiet room.