House arrest was tedious and endless.
Luna Roscente would parade outside my door every day, dressed to impress.
Barred from entering, she lingered in the hallway, chatting with the maids.
Her voice carried just enough to reach my ears.
"Liam took me to the new equestrian center yesterday."
"The white horses there were so gentle."
"He promised to buy one for me next week."
"Mom and Dad are taking me skiing in Switzerland."
"They said I needed a change of scenery."
"What a shame Stella can't come."
I sat by the window reading, pretending not to hear.
Then one afternoon, the villa erupted in chaos.
Mother's treasured diamond ring—the family heirloom from Grandmother—had vanished.
Luna knelt before Mother, tears streaming down her face.
"Mom, it's all my fault..."
"I noticed you weren't wearing it today, so I tried it on..."
"I left it on the dresser, but when I turned around, it was gone..."
She lifted her tearful gaze, letting it drift toward my door.
"The day before... I saw Stella staring at the ring..."
"She said it was so beautiful..."
"But of course she wouldn't take it, right?"
Her words might as well have pointed directly at me as the thief.
Father's face darkened.
Mother covered her mouth, speechless.
Liam stormed to my door and kicked the lock open.
"Stella Anderson! Hand over the ring!"
I remained by the window, absorbed in my book, as if none of this concerned me.
Father barked, "Search everything!"
Maids rushed in, tearing through my belongings.
I watched silently as they tossed my things into disarray.
Finally, someone felt something hard inside an old stuffed doll.
The diamond ring glittered in the sunlight.
The room fell deathly silent.
Every eye fixed on me.
Disappointment. Disgust. Contempt.
Father trembled with rage.
"We brought you home. Gave you the best life."
"And you repay us with theft?"
Mother wept, too heartbroken to speak.
Liam jabbed a finger at me. "Thief! You don't belong in this family!"
Luna hid behind Mother, eyes red but lips curling slightly.
I didn't look at the ring.
I didn't look at them.
My gaze cut through the crowd, locking onto Luna.
Then I smiled.
Bright. Radiant.
Everyone froze.
They must have thought I'd lost my mind.
And maybe I had.
After all, they were the ones who drove me to it.