Chapter 5
Elena sprinted down the hallway to the guest suite where her wedding luggage was still sitting unpacked on a wooden bench. Rummaging through her emergency travel kit, she pulled out a pair of sterile latex gloves and a clean Ziploc storage bag.
She needed a backup plan to get inside that room, and the spare master key hidden in Julian's study desk drawer was her only hope. Rushing down to the ground floor study, she quietly slid open the mahogany desk drawer and began searching through tax folders and receipts.
Her fingers brushed against a small, cold metal key tucked neatly inside the velvet lining of an old fountain pen case. Grabbing the key, she hurried back upstairs before anyone noticed her absence from the lively patio gathering outside.
She slid the key into the master bedroom door lock, turning it with a soft, metallic click that echoed loudly in the quiet hallway. Pushing the door open slowly, she stepped into the luxurious master suite and immediately noticed the sharp scent of industrial bleach.
The bed had been completely stripped of its satin sheets, leaving only the bare white mattress exposed under the glaring afternoon light. Victoria stood by the walk-in closet holding a rolled-up bundle of dark fabric, her expression freezing instantly as she saw Elena in the doorway.
“What are you doing in here with a key, Elena? This is a private family matter,” Victoria demanded, her voice dropping all its sweet maternal pretense. “You were destroying evidence, Victoria; you stripped the bed because you knew I saw the bloodstain,” Elena accused, stepping forward.
May you like
Victoria let out a low, chilling laugh that sent goosebumps racing across Elena’s arms from shoulder to wrist. “You think a simple stain on a bedsheet is going to unravel decades of absolute control over this family, little girl?” Victoria mocked viciously.
Elena pulled her phone out of her pocket, hitting record on the video camera app to capture Victoria’s unmasked hostility in real-time. “Say that again into the camera, Victoria; let's see how Julian reacts when he hears his mother threatening me,” Elena challenged bravely.
