Chapter 7 - The Poison in the Wine
Lucas did not stop; he turned to the final, most devastating page of the sealed document, where medical charts and lab analyses were stapled.
The atmosphere grew so suffocatingly tense that even the summer birds seemed to stop singing in the garden trees.
“Now we arrive at the darkest chapter of your greed, Victoria,” Lucas said, his tone dropping into a deadly, lethal whisper that paralyzed everyone present.
“Arthur Sterling was not a weak man, his heart was as strong as iron, and he knew something was wrong when his hands began to shake every evening after dinner.”
Lucas held up the attached forensic toxicology report signed by an independent private pathologist.
“‘For three consecutive months, my private physician collected blood samples in secret and discovered lethal traces of digitalis glycosides and synthetic arsenic being slowly administered through my evening tea and vintage red wine.’”
Clara let out a blood-curdling gasp, burying her face into Lucas’s chest as the horrifying truth struck her soul like a physical blow.
“They… they poisoned our father?” Clara wept uncontrollably. “Lucas, they murdered Dad!”
Lucas wrapped his left arm tightly around Clara, holding her securely while his eyes remained locked on the trembling stepmother.
“‘I kept silent about the poison only long enough to secure the forensic evidence and transfer all primary assets into a blind, untouchable trust fund for Clara and Lucas,’” Arthur’s letter concluded.
“‘If I am found dead before the authorities can execute this warrant, let it be known to the world that Victoria Sterling and Richard Vance are my cold-blooded executioners.’”
At those words, the elite guests backed away toward the villa’s exits in absolute panic, wanting nothing to do with two cold-blooded murderers.
Richard Vance, realizing that his life in high society was over and that life in a maximum-security prison was now his only future, snapped.
Driven by absolute desperation, Richard scrambled to his feet, grabbed a heavy brass statue from a nearby patio pedestal, and lunged toward Lucas’s back with a murderous scream.
“I’LL KILL YOU BOTH AND BURN THOSE PAPERS TO ASHES!” Richard roared like a wounded, cornered beast.
“LUCAS, LOOK OUT!” Clara screamed in terror.
Lucas did not even need to turn his whole body; his combat instincts reacted instantaneously.
He stepped to the side, allowing Richard’s heavy, reckless momentum to carry him past his shoulder.
Lucas struck like a viper, driving a brutal elbow strike directly into Richard’s temple, followed by a sweeping low kick that took out both of Richard’s knees.
Richard hit the hard stone patio face-first with a sickening crunch, the brass statue clattering uselessly away into the swimming pool.
Lucas planted his heavy combat boot squarely on the back of Richard’s neck, pinning the gasping corporate criminal to the floor with immovable authority.
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“You are not a businessman, Richard,” Lucas said with deadly calm, pressing down just enough to keep the man completely helpless.
“You are an insect who crawled into our house to feed on scraps, and your feeding time is officially over.”
