Chapter 3 — The Third Conspirator
Chaos consumed the ballroom.
Guests rushed backward while police formed a circle around Rachel.
Dr. Harper dropped beside her and pressed his fingers to her neck.
“She’s alive!”
A thin cut ran beneath Rachel’s ear. It was not deep, but it had been intended to frighten—or silence—her.
Detective Ruiz looked toward the service corridor.
The door was swinging.
The man in the false hotel uniform had escaped.
Daniel remained handcuffed, but his expression showed no surprise.
“You knew he was here,” Sophie said.
Daniel smiled faintly.
“You’re imagining things.”
Ruiz ordered officers to seal the hotel.
Rachel was taken into a private room for treatment. Olivia followed, though every step seemed difficult.
Sophie stayed close.
Once the door shut, Rachel began trembling uncontrollably.
“His name is Marcus Vale,” she whispered.
Detective Ruiz recognized the name immediately.
Marcus Vale had been investigated twice for corporate blackmail, identity fraud and witness intimidation. Charges had never held because victims either disappeared or withdrew their testimony.
“How does Daniel know him?” Ruiz asked.
Rachel looked at Olivia.
“Daniel was drowning in debt before he met you. Marcus erased it.”
“In exchange for what?”
“Access.”
Olivia’s face hardened.
“To my company.”
Olivia owned Brightwell Biotech, a successful medical-research firm inherited from her father. Daniel had always claimed that he admired her independence. In reality, he had been collecting passwords, copying contracts and manipulating board members.
Rachel confessed that Daniel had persuaded her to help him obtain Olivia’s personal documents.
“He told me he was planning a surprise investment,” Rachel said. “I believed him at first.”
Olivia’s voice was cold.
“And when did you learn the truth?”
“Two months ago.”
“Yet you stayed.”
Rachel looked down.
“Because Daniel had recordings of me.”
Sophie frowned.
“What kind of recordings?”
Rachel swallowed.
“Me confessing that I altered financial documents for him.”
Olivia stepped back.
“So you did help him steal from me.”
“Yes.”
The word landed brutally.
Rachel covered her face.
“But I never agreed to kill you. Tonight, Daniel told me the anesthetic would only make you collapse. Marcus planned to take you from the hotel in an ambulance he controlled.”
Dr. Harper looked disturbed.
“Why?”
Rachel’s eyes filled with terror.
“Because they didn’t need Olivia dead tonight.”
Daniel’s plan had been more calculated than murder at the wedding.
They intended to abduct her, force her to sign away Brightwell Biotech and kill her later.
Before anyone could respond, Sophie’s phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent her a photograph.
It showed Sophie standing inside the private room.
The photograph had been taken through the window only seconds earlier.
May you like
Below it was a message.
You should have let her eat the cake.
