"So she could be innocent, but she could also be guilty."
Suspicion hung heavy in the air.
Lady Chineye felt her hope slipping away.
Evelyn sighed dramatically beside her, shaking her head as if burdened by disappointment.
"Sister Chineye… I really wanted to believe you, but…" she trailed off, letting her voice carry just enough sadness to plant further doubt in the onlookers' minds.
The shift was immediate.
The crowd's expressions hardened.
The security guards, who had initially hesitated, now reached for their handcuffs once more.
Chineye felt a cold sweat break out along her back. No… this can't be happening…
She could already see the headlines
"Lady Chineye, Duke of Tinrin's Daughter Caught Shoplifting!"
Her father's reputation. Her family's honor.
Everything was crumbling.
She barely noticed how some of the wealthier customers had begun to step back, as if standing too close to her might somehow taint their own standing.
Chineye swallowed hard.
