Chapter 10
“You've been murdering your family for decades, Victoria; the whole world is going to know everything tomorrow morning,” Elena declared bravely. Victoria smiled coldly, walking closer with deliberate, unhurried steps that radiated absolute, terrifying confidence.
“My dear Elena, policemen and judges in this county have golfed with me for thirty years; nobody is going to believe a hysterical bride,” Victoria mocked. Before Elena could dart toward the French doors leading to the garden, Julian appeared behind her, blocking her only escape route.
“I tried to protect you, Elena, I really did, but you just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you?” Julian whispered with genuine sorrow. “You let her murder your father, Julian, and now you're letting her trap you in this nightmare forever!” Elena pleaded with her husband.
“My mother secured our future, Elena; everything we have belongs to the crown, and you were supposed to be a loyal subject, not a rebel,” Julian replied. Victoria raised a small glass vial containing a clear, viscous liquid that smelled identical to the chemical scent from the wedding night.
“Just a few drops in your evening tea, my sweet Elena, and everyone will think you tragically succumbed to postpartum or wedding exhaustion,” Victoria whispered smoothly. Elena backed away until her spine hit the heavy mahogany bookshelf, her mind racing for any possible way out of the trap.
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“Arthur Sterling has copies of every single document and the full financial dossier sitting on his desk in Manhattan right now,” Elena bluffed. Victoria paused midway, her icy composure fracturing for a split second as the name of the elite litigator registered in her mind.
“Arthur doesn't have the physical diary, and without it, his civil subpoenas are nothing more than expensive toilet paper,” Victoria dismissed with a cold smirk. Suddenly, the front security gate alarms blared through the estate, flashing crimson emergency lights across the entire ground floor.
