CHAPTER SIXTY TWO – WRONGFUL ACCUSATION

As the week progressed, Rebecca and Zaya's investigation began to yield results, but not in the way they had hoped. Their constant note-taking and whispered conversations had not gone unnoticed, and the atmosphere in the café grew increasingly hostile. One afternoon, as Rebecca was updating their spreadsheet in the staff room, Chiara burst in, her face contorted with anger. "I knew it!" she shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Rebecca. "You're the one who's been stealing! You've been keeping records of everything so you know exactly what to take!" Rebecca stood up, her heart pounding. "What? No! I'm trying to solve the problem, not cause it!" But Chiara was beyond reason. She grabbed Rebecca's phone, waving it in the air. "Then what's this? Huh? Some kind of inventory of everything you've stolen?" The commotion drew the attention of the other staff members, who crowded into the small room. Rebecca felt trapped, surrounded by suspicious faces and accusing glares. "It's not what