Chapter 2 - Poison in the Dust
Nathan ran a hand through his hair, exhausted.
Leo looked up at his father, still holding the small needle.
"Is she gone, Daddy?" Leo asked softly.
"She's gone, buddy," Nathan said, kneeling down to hug his son.
"You were very brave today."
Margaret paced back and forth across the grand foyer.
"Nathan, we need to check the security feeds immediately," Margaret urged.
"We need to know how long she has been planning this deception."
Nathan nodded and headed toward the private security room in the basement.
He sat in front of the monitors and accessed the cloud backup.
He rewound the footage from the past three weeks.
What he saw made his blood run completely cold.
Vanessa wasn't just faking her pregnancy in front of them.
Late at night, when the house was asleep, she walked into the kitchen.
The video showed her opening a small glass vial.
She poured a fine white powder into Margaret’s daily morning tea container.
Nathan’s jaw dropped in absolute horror.
"Mom..." Nathan gasped, jumping out of his chair.
"Don't touch the tea!" he screamed, running up the stairs.
He burst into the kitchen, panting heavily.
Margaret was already standing by the counter, holding a steaming porcelain cup.
The cup was halfway to her lips.
"Stop!" Nathan yelled, lunging forward to knock the cup from her hand.
The porcelain shattered across the floor, splashing hot liquid everywhere.
Margaret gasped, looking at her son in total shock.
"Nathan! What is wrong with you?" she exclaimed.
Nathan pointed a shaking finger at the puddle on the floor.
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"She was poisoning you," Nathan whispered, his voice trembling.
Suddenly, Margaret’s knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor.
