Chapter 3
The heavy silence in the grand hallway felt heavier than the marble pillars supporting the roof. Julian lowered his phone, the dark screen reflecting the utter disbelief in his eyes. He stared hard at his mother, waiting for an explanation that wasn't coming.
"The signal repeaters," Julian said, his voice rising in dangerous increments. "You had them disabled. Why would you cut communication to the main house on the exact day Clara was scheduled to meet with the forensic accountants?"
Elena didn't flinch. She crossed her arms over her black top, her chin set in stone. "The estate network has been malfunctioning all morning, Julian. You know how unreliable these rural service providers are. Instead of interrogating your own mother while your wife lies bleeding on the floor, perhaps you should focus on carrying her to your car."
"My car keys are still in the study," Julian said, his jaw tightening into a hard line. He turned toward Sarah, who was cradling Clara's head in her lap, whispering soothing, broken phrases. "Sarah, stay right here. Do not let anyone move her. I'm going to get the keys and bring the vehicle around to the front terrace."
"Hurry, Mr. Vance," Sarah begged, her eyes darting nervously toward Elena. "I don't trust what happens in this house when your back is turned."
Julian shot one last, searing glance at his mother before sprinting down the side corridor toward his private office. His leather-soled shoes slapped loudly against the hardwood floor.
Elena watched him leave, her expression shifting from panic back to cold calculation. She stepped closer to Sarah, towering over the kneeling maid.
"You think you've saved her, don't you?" Elena whispered venomously, her voice barely audible above the hum of the grand chandelier overhead. "You think a low-born servant can disrupt a family dynasty that has survived a century by cutting away its rot?"
Sarah looked up, her tears drying as pure anger took over. "Mrs. Vance, what you just did was attempted murder. I saw you hold that cup to her mouth. There are cameras in this hallway, even if you disabled the phones."
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Elena’s lips curled into a thin, chilling smile. "The cameras were scheduled for routine maintenance at noon. There is no footage, Sarah. And when Julian realizes what kind of financial ruin his precious wife brought upon our company, he won't care how she lost the child."
Sarah gasped, scrambling backward as the full horror of the situation settled into her bones. Before she could answer, a loud, metallic screech echoed from the front courtyard.
