Chapter 266

Evelyn stood in the grand foyer of Mooncrest Manor, her breath catching when Dominic stormed through the front doors. The usually composed billionaire looked uncharacteristically disheveled.

"Dominic, you look exhausted. Have you eaten?" Clara Thorne emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a linen towel.

"Mother, have you noticed a crimson jewelry box in the house?" Evelyn flung her designer handbag onto the plush sofa and marched toward the twins' playroom.

"A jewelry box?" Clara trailed behind, frowning. "I don't recall seeing one. Why do you ask?"

"Dominic misplaced an important box." Evelyn's fingers trembled as she opened the toy chest. "He reviewed all security footage but found nothing unusual. However, Henry hacked into Dominic's security system weeks ago during his visit. Dominic suspects the box disappeared during that window."

Clara's face darkened. "He's accusing Henry of theft?"

Evelyn met her mother's gaze. "I know you don't believe Henry capable of this, and neither do I. But how many boundaries has he crossed already?"

Clara exhaled sharply but didn't argue. "This box - what's inside that makes it so valuable?" She began searching through the bookshelf.

"Dominic says it's crucial." Evelyn's voice wavered as she checked under the bunk beds.

"If it's that important, why wasn't it secured properly?" Clara's brow furrowed. "If a child could simply walk in and take it, the security measures are clearly inadequate."

"His estate has round-the-clock guards and surveillance covering every angle," Evelyn countered. "No ordinary person could breach that level of protection."

Clara fell silent.

After combing through every inch of the playroom, Evelyn expanded her search to the entire mansion.

An hour later, they'd found nothing.

"Evelyn, if he suspects us, let him come search himself." Clara collapsed onto the velvet sofa, exhaustion lining her face.

Evelyn stepped onto the moonlit balcony and dialed Dominic's number.

"The box isn't here," she reported. "When Lily and Henry return from Willowbrook Academy, I'll question them."

"Understood."

"Dominic... what happens if the box isn't found?" Her grip tightened on the phone.

"Nothing consequential." His clipped tone suggested he was withholding something.

"If it's not urgent, get some rest. Sometimes what we search for appears when we stop looking." She tried to sound reassuring.

"Perhaps."

Dominic had turned Blackwood Estate upside down multiple times. The box was undeniably missing.

If Evelyn's children hadn't taken it, who had?

The thief's motives baffled him. The box's contents could destroy him, yet nothing had surfaced. No blackmail. No threats. Just silence.

Lying in his cold bed, Dominic found sleep elusive. The mystery gnawed at him.

That evening, Evelyn inspected Lily and Henry's school bags as soon as they returned. Only textbooks and spare uniforms filled the compartments.

"Mommy, what are you searching for?" Lily blinked her enormous hazel eyes.

"Sweetheart, have either of you taken a red box from Dominic's house?" Evelyn knelt to their eye level. Lily's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, her small hands clutching her skirt.