Chapter 3 - Shadows in the Ballroom
The red emergency backup lights flickered to life, casting an eerie glow across the hall.
Julian stood ten feet away, holding a silenced pistol aimed directly at Richard’s head.
Beside Julian stood Victoria, a cold, calculating smile back on her face.
"You were always so foolishly romantic, Richard," Victoria sneered, wiping the rain from her shoulders.
"Did you honestly think I loved a man who spent all his time on legacy and morality?" she taunted.
Richard slowly stood up, shielding Eleanor behind his back.
"You sat at my dinner table every night, Julian," Richard said, his teeth clenched in rage.
"I gave you everything," Richard added.
Julian chuckled softly, a sound completely devoid of warmth or remorse.
"You gave me scraps of your glory while you sat on the throne," Julian replied.
"And now, this little rat of a waitress thought she could play hero," Julian spat, glaring at Eleanor.
Eleanor stepped out from behind Richard, holding her smartwatch high.
"The video isn't saved locally, Julian," Eleanor said with a cold, steady voice.
"It streamed live to six major federal prosecutor servers five minutes ago," she announced.
Julian’s confident smirk instantly vanished.
His eyes narrowed into slits of pure venom.
"Then I guess I have nothing left to lose tonight," Julian whispered, lifting his firearm.
Before Julian could pull the trigger, Eleanor pressed a red button on her smartwatch bezel.
A deafening acoustic distress frequency blasted from the mansion's built-in sound system.
May you like
Julian winced in pain, covering his ears as the high-pitched squeal disoriented everyone.
Richard seized the split second to tackle his brother to the ground.
