Everyone thought Lucia was the thief because she was wearing a maid's uniform… until Mateo spoke up and said he had seen the real person hiding the necklace.

The police officer slowly and deliberately snapped open the golden clasp of the champagne satin purse. The silence in the room was absolute; not a single guest dared to clink a crystal glass or utter a whisper. The officer reached inside and methodically pulled out the contents one by one.

First, a delicate silk handkerchief. Then, a tube of incredibly expensive dark red lipstick. Next, a small, polished silver compact mirror. And finally, sitting at the very bottom of the small bag, wrapped hastily in a plain white cocktail napkin, was a heavy, glittering object.

The officer pulled back the napkin, and the famous Alcázar diamond necklace caught the light of the chandeliers, sparkling brilliantly for everyone to see.

The grand hall felt like a silent tomb. Lucía felt her knees tremble so violently she nearly collapsed to the cold marble floor. Mateo buried his face in his hands and cried louder, overwhelmed by the stress. Valeria squeezed her eyes shut tightly, as if hoping the devastating reality before her would simply vanish into thin air.

The officer held the priceless antique jewelry high in the air, his face an unreadable mask of professional authority.

"Can you explain exactly how this got in here, ma'am?"

Valeria opened her mouth, desperately searching for a plausible lie, but her brain short-circuited. No words came out.

Don Alejandro stared at his sister-in-law as if a complete stranger was standing in his home.

"You hid it," the patriarch stated, his voice heavy with profound shock and disgust.

"No!" Valeria blurted out, frantically backpedaling. "Someone else must have planted it in there! It’s a vicious setup!"

Mateo, hearing the blatant lie, shouted through his tears.

"No! I saw you! You took it out of the vanity drawer and shoved it in the bag! Then you came downstairs and started screaming that Lucía went into your room!"