Chapter 13 - Web of Lies
Arthur slowly raised his hands, showing no fear or panic.
A cold, mocking smile spread across the old butler's face.
"You were always too emotional, Julian," Arthur said, dropping his polite tone entirely.
"Just like your father was."
Julian’s hand holding the gun trembled with rage.
"It was you," Julian gasped.
"You provided Victoria with the toxin!"
"Victoria was merely a greedy, loud-mouthed pawn," Arthur sneered softly.
"She thought she was the mastermind."
"She was so easy to manipulate."
"All I had to do was drop a few subtle hints about Clara’s financial discoveries, and Victoria did the heavy lifting for me."
"Why?!" Julian yelled, his thumb flicking off the safety switch.
"My family trusted you for twenty years!"
"You gave you everything!"
Arthur chuckled quietly, a hollow, bitter sound.
"Your father stole my family's shipping company thirty years ago to build Sterling Enterprises!" Arthur spat back, his eyes flashing with long-buried vengeance.
"He destroyed my father!"
"He drove my mother to suicide!"
"I took this job as a butler to watch your family rot from the inside out!"
"I killed Clara because she was smart enough to trace the old financial records."
"And I used Victoria to take the blame."
Julian’s finger tightened on the trigger.
"You monster!"
"Go ahead, shoot me!" Arthur dared him, stepping closer to the barrel.
"Shoot me, and you'll never find out where the second dose of N-22 is hidden right now."
Julian's heart stopped.
"What did you say?"
Arthur looked up at the ceiling security camera showing the master bedroom where Chloe and Lily were locked inside.
"Did you really think I didn't plan ahead, Julian?" Arthur whispered maliciously.
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"Check the water filter system for the master wing."
"It was activated five minutes ago."
