Chapter 9 - The Younger Brother
The bronze paperweight hit Marcus’s palm with a dull, heavy thud. He stood blocking the only exit from the kitchen, his eyes scanning Elena from head to toe with a look of clinical detachment that sent a shive straight down her spine.
"You're Marcus," Elena whispered, tightening her grip on the baby as she instinctively took a step back. "I thought you were in Geneva."
Marcus let out a soft, mocking laugh. "Geneva is lovely this time of year, but politics wait for no man—especially when there’s a multi-million-dollar trust fund up for grabs and my brilliant older brother tries to take all the credit for our uncle's unfortunate demise."
Elena’s mind raced. If Marcus was here, and Julian had been arrested, then the entire family war was far more complicated and deadly than she had ever imagined. It wasn't just a marital dispute or a single murder; it was a systemic rot at the very core of the Vance dynasty, involving multiple siblings vying for power with absolute ruthlessness.
"I'm just a nanny," Elena said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the overwhelming terror gripping her chest. "I don't care about your family's money or your campaign. Just let me leave with the child."
Marcus stopped pacing. He tilted his head, his smile vanishing instantly, replaced by a cold, calculating glare. "Leave? With the only living heir to the Vance estate—and the person holding the only complete audio record of tonight's events? I don't think so, Elena. Or should I call you Investigator Gomez?"
Elena’s breath hitched. How did he know her real name?
Marcus took another slow step forward, lifting the bronze paperweight slightly. "My brother is an idiot. He thought he could outsmart the police by framing Clara. But he underestimated me. I was the one who bought the synthetic digitalis using his corporate login. I was the one who hacked the security cameras. And now, thanks to your little recording device, I'm going to ensure both Julian and Clara spend the rest of their natural lives behind bars—while I inherit everything."
Before Marcus could lunge forward to grab the recorder from her apron, the distant sound of heavy pounding echoed once again from the front entrance.
"Police! Open up! We have a warrant to re-inspect the premises!"
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Marcus froze, his face turning pale with sudden panic. He turned his head toward the foyer just as the front window shattered into a million sparkling pieces.
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