Chapter 2 - THE TASTE OF ASHES
The shattered crystal lay scattered across the polished marble, glittering under the grand chandelier like crushed diamonds.
Julian Vance stood frozen, his hand still feeling the sting of maid Emily’s desperate grip on his wrist.
Beside them, Victoria, clad in her exquisite emerald silk dress, swallowed hard as her composure crumbled into subtle panic.
The silence in the dining room was heavy enough to crush a man.
Julian slowly shifted his gaze from the smartphone screen to Victoria’s face.
The footage on the screen was undeniable—a high-definition video showing Victoria slipping a white powder into his fresh orange juice.
"Is this true, Victoria?" Julian asked, his voice deathly quiet yet laced with icy fury.
Victoria forced a breath into her lungs, trying desperately to assemble her shattered socialite mask.
"Julian, baby, you can’t possibly believe this servant over me," she stammered, stepping backward. "She edited that video. It’s a setup!"
"I saw the raw timestamp, Victoria," Julian said, taking a slow step toward her.
Her heels clicked against the hard marble as she backed away toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate's private lake.
"You tried to kill me in my own home," he whispered, the realization cutting deeper than any knife.
"I didn't! I swear to God, Julian, I love you!" she gasped, her eyes darting toward the double mahogany exit doors.
"Security," Julian spoke into his smartwatch without breaking eye contact. "Seal the main gate."
Victoria’s face paled as the red emergency lights flashed along the perimeter walls outside.
Emily stepped back into the shadows, her dark navy uniform crisp, her heart pounding against her ribs.
She had risked everything by stepping forward today, but she knew what Victoria was capable of.
"Why, Victoria?" Julian asked, his jaw tight. "Was my fortune not enough for you?"
"You don't understand what's coming, Julian!" Victoria suddenly cried out, her voice dropping all pretense of elegance. "They threatened my family!"
Before Julian could process her words, the distant wail of police sirens broke through the heavy silence of the estate.
Victoria took advantage of his moment of distraction and bolted toward the side corridor leading to the private garage.
"Let her run," Julian said quietly as security guards rushed into the dining room. "She won't get past the gate."
He turned around to face Emily, who was standing quietly near the shattered juice glass.
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"Where did you get that footage, Emily?" Julian asked, his sharp blue eyes searching her face.
Emily met his gaze calmly. "From someone who knew you were in danger, Mr. Vance."
