Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 17: Clarissa – The Necklace and The Maid
Edwin’s shout shattered my thoughts and all the worst possibilities swirling in my head.
"Young Master Edwin, she was jealous of Miss Shannon," the young maid insisted. "She saw Miss Shannon’s beautiful dress and wanted the jewelry that matched it."
She spun some fairytale I had never even heard of.
I stayed silent. What was the point of explaining? It would end the same way as the incident in the faculty room.
With just a few words from Oscar, everyone immediately believed I was the one who copied his work.
And even after I explained everything and showed proof, they backed down quietly without apology. Some still believed Oscar was right.
Only when Shannon arrived did anyone defend me.
Wherever I went, the labels orphan and defective omega followed me like a curse.
Shannon stepped toward me, eyes watery. "Sister Clarissa... is it true? Do you hate me?"
Even Shannon —pure, innocent Shannon— didn’t believe in me.
I kept my face as neutral as I could, though my gaze had probably turned colder.
"I said it’s impossible!" Edwin shouted again.
Everyone turned toward him. His eyes were red with anger.
"Sister Clar would never do that!"
"But young master—"
"Silence!" This time Larry barked the command.
What was happening? Why were they defending me? Shouldn’t they have believed the maid right away?
"I’m sure Sister Clar didn’t steal it," Edwin said firmly. "If you don’t believe me, the proof is right there."
He pointed at my neck.
My hand moved up instinctively. The necklace.
"That necklace isn’t just jewelry, it’s a recording device."
Only then did I remember I was wearing it.
"Clarissa, could you play what’s on it?" Luna Eileen asked, brows knit in worry. I wasn’t sure what she was worried about.
I played the recording from the moment the servant called for Luna Eileen.
There was nothing at first, just faint static. Then a loud crashing sound.
Then my footsteps, the door opening, and finally...
the maid screaming that I was a thief.
With such clear evidence, every eye turned to the maid.
Her face paled. Her mouth opened and closed. Her eyes darted wildly, and her hands trembled.
She was caught.
Suddenly Shannon threw her arms around me, her face wet with angry tears.
"Poor Sister Clarissa... you had to go through something like this."
I let out a slow breath and stroked her back. "Don’t be sad. I’m used to it."
But then Luna Eileen’s, Edwin’s, and Larry’s eyes sharpened— harsh and furious. A heavy pressure filled the hallway.
Shannon and I, both omegas, nearly collapsed, but Edwin and Larry steadied us.
"Fire her. And give her a punishment worthy of her lies," Luna Eileen ordered.
The gentleness on her face vanished. She was truly angry.
"No! Please, forgive me! I didn’t mean to—!" The maid begged as other servants dragged her away.
Back at Alpha Ryan’s mansion in Brown Pack, any servant caught stealing had their hand cut off.
This maid had not only stolen, she had framed me. I didn’t know what punishment awaited her.
An older maid, elegant yet respectful, stepped forward.
Shannon let go of me to wipe her tears. We both stared as the woman suddenly knelt in front of me.
I stepped back on reflex and looked around, but no one seemed surprised.
"Please forgive us, miss," the older maid said. "Our servant acted out of line. No one in this household thinks as she did. I promise this will never happen again."
"Yes, yes, I forgive you. It’s fine," I said quickly, trying to help her stand.
But Luna Eileen held my hand firmly.
Apparently, things like this had to be formally acknowledged— a display of authority in this house.
After everything settled, Luna Eileen took me outside.
To buy clothes.
Yes, clothes.
It seemed the maid’s comments had stuck with her too deeply.
From the second floor all the way to the car, she never let go of my hand. Her face stayed troubled and full of guilt.
"I really don’t mind what happened," I said.
Honestly... situations like this were more uncomfortable than being insulted directly.
"But I still need to apologize, Clarissa. It’s all because of my shortcomings. I couldn’t even prepare proper clothes for you, and that lowly servant dared insult you, the daughter of an Alpha."
Her purple eyes glistened. Luna Eileen looked straight at me.
"What I hate most is any of my children being compared to each other. Someone getting more attention, someone getting less. That maid... she tried to plant resentment between you and Shannon. It hurt my heart. As a mother, and the one responsible for the servants, this is a terrible failure on my part."
I listened without interrupting. I really was fine. Much worse had happened to me.
The difference now was... someone was standing up for me. Someone felt sad because of what I suffered.
During the drive, I kept repeating that I was okay.
After we finished shopping, Luna Eileen wasn’t as distraught.
I thought the ride home would be filled with light conversation, but she suddenly dropped a bomb on me.
With her steady purple gaze, she asked,
"Clarissa... would you like to move into our house? To live with your father, mother, brothers, and sister?"
I froze and answered before I could stop myself.
"Has the Alpha agreed?"
Luna Eileen’s eyes widened in shock.
From her reaction... the servants had been right. The Alpha of Green Pack didn’t fully believe I was his daughter.
"Of course he will agree once he meets you," she insisted. "Your face, your eyes, your hair, even your allergies. He’ll know. He’ll accept you."
I didn’t answer right away. My thoughts tangled.
After today, I knew Luna Eileen, Larry, Edwin, and Shannon accepted me wholeheartedly. Sometimes it felt like this was all a dream.
But besides them, the house also held an Alpha who doubted me, and an eldest son I had never met.
I was afraid of being thrown away someday.
But deep down, in a corner of my heart...
I longed for family.
For a home.
"Clarissa," Luna Eileen whispered, squeezing my hand, "I promise I’ll never let your tears fall from sadness again. I will be the mother who always protects you."
...
