Chapter 162
The moon hung low in the sky, its silver glow casting soft shadows across my room. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the bathroom window. The guards stationed outside my door were a reminder of my confinement, but they weren’t my only obstacle. My mind raced, the need to clear my name burning like fire in my chest. Joseph had framed me, and as long as I stayed locked away, I couldn’t prove otherwise.
I had to act.
The plan was simple, though not without risk. I’d noticed earlier that the bathroom window opened out onto a narrow ledge. If I could squeeze through, I’d have a chance to search Joseph’s room again. I didn’t know what I was looking for—anything that could prove he was lying—but I knew I wouldn’t find it sitting here.
With one last glance at the door, I tiptoed into the bathroom. The window was smaller than I remembered, but desperation made me determined. I climbed onto the sink, wedging my fingers under the frame and pushing it open. The cool night air rushed in, carrying the scent of pine and earth.
“This is a terrible idea,” I muttered to myself.
The ledge was barely wide enough for my feet, and I pressed my body against the wall, inching along carefully. The packhouse was quiet, most of its occupants asleep. I held my breath with each step, my ears straining for any sound of approaching guards.
Finally, I reached the end of the ledge and crouched by another window. Joseph’s room was on the other side of the house, but I knew the layout well enough to plan a route. I dropped to the ground, landing softly on the grass. My heart pounded as I crouched low and moved quickly, sticking to the shadows.
When I reached Joseph’s wing, the tension in my chest tightened. His room was dark, the curtains drawn. Perfect. I tried the door, but it was locked. Of course. My eyes darted to the window, and I sighed. Another climb it was.
The climb was harder this time, the rough bark of the tree scraping against my palms as I hoisted myself up. When I reached the sill, I hesitated. What if Joseph was awake? What if this was another trap?
Shaking off the doubts, I pushed the window open and slipped inside.
The room was as pristine as I remembered, the faint scent of cigar smoke lingering in the air. My eyes scanned the space, searching for anything out of place. The desk drawers were locked, and I didn’t have the tools to pick them. My gaze shifted to the closet.
That drawer.
Something about it had called to me the last time I was here. I approached cautiously, opening the closet door as quietly as I could. The drawer was locked too, but I noticed a small key on the shelf above it.
“Convenient,” I whispered, grabbing the key and sliding it into the lock.
It clicked open, revealing a small collection of papers and a velvet pouch. My hands trembled as I sifted through the documents—financial records, correspondence, nothing incriminating. But the pouch caught my attention.
I opened it and froze. Inside was a necklace, the pendant shaped like a crescent moon. It was beautiful, but it felt… off.
Before I could examine it further, a voice behind me made my blood run cold.
“What the hell are you doing?”
I spun around, the necklace slipping from my fingers. Jake stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
“Jake,” I stammered. “I can explain.”
“You’d better,” he said, stepping closer. “Because right now, this doesn’t look good.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m trying to prove I didn’t do it. Joseph set me up, and I need to find evidence before it’s too late.”
Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Ayla, sneaking into his room in the middle of the night isn’t going to help your case. It’ll only make you look guiltier.”
“But you believe me, don’t you?” I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.
He nodded slowly. “I believe you. But it’s not about what I believe. It’s about what I can prove to everyone else. And if they catch you doing this…”
“I know,” I muttered, looking away.
Jake closed the distance between us, his voice softening. “Ayla, I get it. You want to clear your name, and I respect that. But you’re putting yourself at risk. You have to trust me to handle this.”
“Handle it?” I scoffed. “You’ve seen how good Joseph is at manipulating people. Do you really think you can outmaneuver him?”
A flicker of frustration crossed his face. “I’m not going to let him win, Ayla. But if you keep doing things like this, you’ll make it harder for me to protect you.”
His words stung, but I knew he was right. I was being reckless, and it was playing into Joseph’s hands. Still, the thought of sitting back and doing nothing made my skin crawl.
“What am I supposed to do, Jake?” I asked quietly. “Just wait around while he tears me apart?”
“For now, yes,” he said firmly. “Let me handle it.”
He stepped closer, his gaze softening. “I know it’s hard, Ayla. But I need you to trust me.”
I wanted to argue, to insist that I could take care of myself. But the sincerity in his eyes stopped me.
“Fine,” I said reluctantly. “I’ll stay out of it. For now.”
“Good.” He picked up the necklace from the floor, examining it briefly before pocketing it. “I’ll look into this. You go back to your room and stay put.”
I followed him out of the room, my heart heavy with frustration and fear. When we reached my wing, he stopped and turned to me.
“And Ayla,” he said, his voice low. “No more midnight investigations. Understand?”
I nodded, too tired to argue.
Back in my room, I collapsed onto the bed, my mind racing. Jake believed me, and that was a relief. But Joseph wasn’t going to stop until I was out of the picture.
I just hoped Jake could stop him before it was too late. I smiled at myself. He believed me,Jake knew I was innocent and he was trying to actually protect me. I couldn't help but blush at the thought . He cared, and here I was worried that he didn't.
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