Chapter 1 — The Woman in White
The ballroom remained silent.
No one dared move.
Richard Ashford stared at the phone in Emily Carter's trembling hands as the surveillance video replayed again.
An elegant hand.
A diamond bracelet.
A delicate silver packet.
Fine white powder slipping into his orange juice.
Richard slowly looked up.
His eyes settled on Victoria Sinclair.
The same diamond bracelet sparkled on her wrist.
Victoria forced a smile.
"This proves nothing," she said calmly. "Anyone could have edited a video."
Several guests immediately nodded.
Victoria was a respected philanthropist.
A member of the museum board.
The face of countless charity campaigns.
Emily was only a maid.
Richard looked from one woman to the other.
Then he quietly spoke.
"Lock every exit."
The ballroom doors closed.
Security blocked every entrance.
Victoria's confidence faded for the first time.
Emily lowered her eyes.
"I knew you'd think I was lying."
Richard looked at her.
"Then tell me why you risked everything."
Emily swallowed.
"Because someone already tried once."
The room fell silent again.
She reached into her apron and removed a folded laboratory report.
"The housekeeper found white residue in your morning coffee cup yesterday."
Richard slowly unfolded the paper.
The report confirmed traces of a highly dangerous chemical.
Yesterday.
The poison hadn't appeared tonight.
Someone had been trying for days.
May you like
Richard's face turned cold.
Victoria quietly tightened her fists beneath the table.
