Chapter 8 - THE TRAP AT DAWN
By 4:00 AM, the storm outside the Vance estate had cleared, leaving the massive mansion surrounded by a quiet, misty fog.
Inside the master bedroom, Victoria Sterling sat in front of the vanity mirror, brushing her long dark hair. She was smiling at her reflection.
Everything was going according to plan. The maid was in jail, facing attempted murder charges. Arthur was shattered, emotionally broken, and reliant on her for comfort. In a few months, once the trial was over and the tragedy faded, she would gently guide Arthur toward marriage. And then... little Leo would suffer another tragic "accident."
A soft knock sounded at her bedroom door.
Victoria turned, smoothing her silk robe. "Come in, darling."
Arthur stepped into the room. He looked exhausted, holding a glass of orange juice.
"Arthur, sweetheart," Victoria purred, standing up and walking toward him. "Did you manage to get any sleep? How is Leo?"
"Leo is fine," Arthur said, his voice completely flat, devoid of emotion. "The police called me twenty minutes ago. They said the maid confessed."
Victoria’s eyes lit up with malicious triumph, though she quickly forced her face into a mournful expression. "Oh, thank heaven! I knew she was guilty! That awful girl... to think we let her near our sweet boy. At least now she'll be locked away where she belongs."
"Yes," Arthur said, stepping closer, handing her the glass of juice. "She's where she belongs. Drink your juice, Victoria. We have a long day of legal proceedings ahead."
Victoria took the glass, smiling sweetly. "Thank you, Arthur. You are always so thoughtful."
She lifted the glass and took a deep, long sip.
Arthur watched her, his expression cold as granite. "Do you remember the night Clara died, Victoria?"
Victoria paused, lowering the glass slightly, her brow furrowing. "Clara? Why are you bringing her up now?"
"The police report said her brake line was severed," Arthur said softly, taking a step toward her. "The mechanic said it was a precise cut made with a high-tensile wire cutter. A tool that was missing from your garage that week."
Victoria’s face turned slightly pale. "Arthur, what on earth are you talking about? Clara had an accident!"
"Just like Leo had an 'accident' today?" Arthur asked, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper.
Victoria backed away, her heart hammering. "Arthur, you're upset... you're not making any sense—"
Suddenly, the doors to the master suite were kicked open with a loud, violent thud.
Detective Reed stepped into the room, followed by four armed police officers. Behind them, standing in a dry, clean dress, her head held high, was Maya Lin.
Victoria gasped, dropping the glass of orange juice. It shattered against the hardwood floor, spilling dark sticky liquid across the rug.
"Victoria Sterling," Detective Reed announced, pulling out a pair of steel handcuffs. "You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Leo Vance, the extortion of Marcus Vance, and the first-degree murder of Clara Vance."
"This is outrageous!" Victoria shrieked, backing against the vanity. "Arthur, tell them! Tell them she's the one who did it! She's framing me!"
Arthur walked over to the vanity, picked up his tablet, and pressed play.
The video of Victoria breaking the stroller brake and shoving it into the pool played in crisp, beautiful, undeniable detail, her own smiling face illuminated on the screen.
Victoria stared at the monitor, the color draining completely from her skin until she looked like a corpse.
"You're a monster, Victoria," Arthur said, his eyes filled with pure disgust. "Take her out of my house."
As the officers grabbed Victoria’s arms and snapped the handcuffs over her wrists, she began to scream, thrashing violently, her manicured nails scratching against the floor as she was dragged out into the hallway.
May you like
"Arthur! No! You need me! You can't survive without me!" she shrieked, her voice echoing down the grand staircase until the front heavy doors slammed shut.
Silence reclaimed the mansion.
