Addison POV:
Candace thought she was clever. A fake theft accusation, timed to coincide with my heartbroken discovery. She wanted to frame me, to devastate me on every front. The sheer audacity of her plan sent a jolt of ice through my veins, but it also sparked a cold, calculating resolve. She clearly underestimated my resilience. She saw a grieving woman. I was transforming into something far more dangerous.
"You think you can play games with me?" I whispered to my phone screen, my voice a low growl. "You just handed me another weapon."
I rose from the bathroom floor, my body stiff but my mind clear. There was no time for wallowing. Candace wanted a confrontation? She would get one. But it wouldn't be on her terms.
I went to my closet, pulling out a simple, dark dress. It wasn't formal, but it was pristine, professional. I wasn't going to look like a victim. I wasn't going to look like I had just cried my eyes out. I was going to look composed, unshakeable. I meticulously applied a fresh layer of makeup, covering the redness around my eyes, painting on a mask of calm. This was my armor.
I grabbed my purse, making sure my phone, fully charged and filled with photographic evidence of Damien and Candace's affair, was easily accessible. I wasn't just going to her apartment; I was going to the police station first. Candace had made a formal accusation; I would make a pre-emptive strike. I wouldn't wait for them to come for me. I would go to them.
The drive across town was a blur. My mind raced, constructing scenarios, planning my responses. I walked into the police station with my head held high, requesting to speak to an officer about a malicious false accusation. I briefly explained the situation, focusing on the pet-sitting job and the client's sudden, unfounded theft claim. The officer, a stern-faced woman named Detective Miller, listened with a skeptical but professional air.
"Alright, Ms. Lawson," she said, her voice even. "We'll need to investigate this. Where is the alleged theft supposed to have occurred?"
"At unit 27B, [Apartment Building Name], owned by Candace Smith," I stated, deliberately using Candace's full name. "I suspect this is a retaliatory tactic due to a personal dispute involving my long-term boyfriend, Damien Travis." I laid out the essential facts, carefully omitting my pregnancy to maintain objectivity, hinting at the complexity without revealing my hand entirely.
Her eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of Damien's name. "Damien Travis, the divorce attorney?" she asked, a flicker of recognition.
"The very same," I confirmed. "I believe Ms. Smith is trying to cause me maximum damage, emotionally and legally."
Detective Miller nodded slowly. "We'll send a patrol car to Ms. Smith's residence. You should accompany them. It's best if you're present when we address her claim."
This was exactly what I wanted. A formal, official context. Not a messy, emotional showdown. Candace wanted to play dirty. I would play by the book, and then some.
We arrived at Candace's apartment building, the same sleek high-rise from earlier. As we walked up to unit 27B, the door swung open before we even knocked. Candace stood there, her blonde hair perfectly styled, a smirk playing on her lips. She wore a designer tracksuit, looking effortlessly chic, a stark contrast to my carefully composed but functional attire. Her gaze swept over me, lingering on my face, searching for signs of distress. Her eyes held a triumphant gleam.
"Well, well, well," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. "Look what the cat dragged in. You actually showed up. And you brought friends." She glanced at Detective Miller, her smirk widening. "I assume you're here about the stolen ring, Officer?"
Detective Miller stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "Ms. Smith, we're here to investigate a report of theft. Can you confirm you made a complaint regarding a diamond ring?"
"Of course," Candace said, puffing out her chest. "She stole it. Addison Lawson. She's a thief." She pointed a manicured finger at me, her eyes flashing with venom. "She came in here under false pretenses, posing as a pet-sitter, and she took my engagement ring! The one Damien gave me!"
My heart hammered against my ribs, but my face remained impassive. Her lies were blatant, her performance theatrical.
"Ms. Smith, do you have any proof of this accusation?" Detective Miller asked, her tone firm.
Candace scoffed. "Proof? She was the only one here! And she just stood there looking guilty, didn't you, Addison?" She turned to me, her eyes blazing. "Where is it, you criminal? Give me back my ring! You won't get away with this. Damien is a high-powered attorney; he'll make sure you rot in jail!"
"I did not steal anything, Candace," I stated calmly, my voice steady. "And I already informed Detective Miller that I suspect this is a false accusation, directly related to your affair with Damien Travis."
Candace's triumphant smirk faltered for a split second. A flicker of surprise, then her eyes narrowed. "You manipulative liar! Who do you think you are, twisting things around? Damien would never-"
Before she could finish, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, her expression shifting from indignant fury to forced sweetness. "It's Damien," she mouthed to me, a defiant glint in her eyes, as if his call was her ultimate weapon. She answered, putting him on speaker.
"Damien, honey!" she cooed, her voice trembling slightly, adopting a fake sob. "Addison is here! And she brought the police! She's denying everything, she's accusing me of lying... She's saying terrible things about us! I'm so scared!" She squeezed out a few fake tears, her performance Oscar-worthy.
Damien's voice, tinny and distant through the phone, filled the small hallway. "Candace? What's going on? Police? Addison?" His voice was laced with confusion and a hint of panic.
"She's accusing me of having an affair with you, Damien!" Candace cried, looking at me with triumph. "Can you believe the nerve? She's trying to ruin my reputation! Our reputation!"
"Candace, relax," Damien's voice commanded, sharper now. "Don't say anything to them. Just tell them you want to press charges for theft. Do not discuss our personal lives." His tone was lawyerly, controlled. He was already in damage control mode.
"But Damien-" Candace started, clearly wanting more emotional support.
"Just do what I said, Candace," he snapped, his patience wearing thin. "I have to go. I have a critical client situation. I'll call you back later." With that, he hung up.
The line went dead. Candace stared at the phone, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face before she quickly masked it. She had expected him to rush to her side, to publicly defend her. But his professional instincts had kicked in, cold and calculating.
I felt a surge of cold satisfaction. He was prioritizing his career, as always. The sound of his voice, even through the phone, had sent a fresh wave of pain through me, a chilling reminder of his complicity. But his abrupt dismissal of Candace, his clear focus on self-preservation, solidified my resolve. He was not worth my tears. He was not worth my anguish. He was a strategic opponent, nothing more.
Just then, a uniformed officer arrived, joining Detective Miller. "Alright, Ms. Smith," Detective Miller said, her voice cutting through the tension. "We'll need to go to the precinct to file a formal report. And Ms. Lawson, you'll need to come as well to give your statement."
"Fine," Candace huffed, her eyes still blazing at me. "She's a thief, and I want her charged."
At the precinct, the stark, sterile interrogation room felt like a stage, the fluorescent lights harsh and unforgiving. Candace repeated her story, painting herself as the innocent victim of a vengeful ex-girlfriend. She described the ring in elaborate detail, claiming it was a family heirloom, a gift from Damien's grandmother. Another lie. I knew his grandmother's ring. It was a simple gold band, not this ostentatious diamond.
"She took the ring, Officer," Candace insisted, her voice trembling with feigned emotion. She even produced a printed photo of the diamond ring, a close-up shot that highlighted every facet. "This is it. It's irreplaceable."
Detective Miller turned to me. "Ms. Lawson, do you have this ring on you? Or anywhere in your possession?"
My heart pounded. I did have it. Not the actual ring Candace was talking about, but the ring. The one I had seen tucked under the magazines. The diamond ring that solidified Damien' s other proposal. But I couldn't produce it and claim it was hers, because it wasn't. It was his, meant for her. And I had a plan. My stomach churned. This was the moment. My moment.
"No, Officer," I said calmly. "I don't. But I can tell you where the real ring is." I paused, letting the words hang in the air. "It's in unit 27B, hidden in a small mahogany jewelry box in the study, engraved with a specific date: my seven-year anniversary with Damien Travis."
Candace's eyes widened, her jaw dropping. The color drained from her face. She knew I knew. And she knew I was playing a different game.
