Chapter 2 - The Poisoned Bloodline
Thunder echoed across the marble courtyard of the Vance estate.
Guests scrambled in chaos as security sirens blared throughout the mansion.
Victoria tried to slip away into the crowd, but Richard’s personal bodyguard seized her arm.
"Let go of me, you worthless brute!" Victoria shrieked, striking the bodyguard’s face.
Richard ignored her screams and knelt beside Eleanor.
"Why are you helping me after how my family treated you?" Richard asked, his voice raw with emotion.
Eleanor pulled a small, blood-stained envelope from her apron pocket.
"Because my mother died in your hospital three years ago under mysterious circumstances," Eleanor whispered.
"Julian framed you for her murder, Mr. Vance," she stated calmly.
Richard’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
"My brother... murdered your mother?" Richard repeated, the realization hitting him like a physical blow.
"He framed you so he could blackmail you for fifty percent of the holdings," Eleanor explained.
Suddenly, a loud gunshot shattered the glass doors at the end of the corridor.
The lights in the entire estate went completely dark.
Screams rang out from every corner of the darkened ballroom.
Richard grabbed Eleanor by the shoulder and pulled her down behind the mahogany bar.
"They're not trying to escape," Eleanor whispered in the dark.
"Julian sent his cleanup crew to erase the evidence," she said.
A footsteps echoed softly over the shattered champagne glass on the floor.
Someone was walking deliberately toward their hiding spot.
Richard felt his heart hammer against his ribs.
May you like
A familiar voice spoke out of the darkness, calm and chillingly smooth.
"Did you really think five seconds of video would save you, big brother?" Julian’s voice echoed.
