CHAPTER 2 — The Truth Beneath the Marble
CHAPTER 2 — The Truth Beneath the Marble
Ten minutes later, sirens echoed outside the mansion gates.
Claire froze mid-cry.
“What… what is that?” she whispered.
The caretaker finally looked alarmed. “Did you call the police?”
“No,” the pregnant woman said calmly from the floor.
“I called evidence.”
Claire’s face changed instantly.
“That’s not what happened!” she shouted, stepping back. “She fell! I didn’t do anything!”
But then—
The mansion’s security system beeped.
Every camera in the hallway lit up at once.
Red recording icons blinked across the monitors.
The pregnant woman slowly lifted herself to a seated position, still holding her stomach—but her eyes were now sharp, awake, and terrifyingly calm.
“You chose the wrong staircase,” she said quietly.
Claire frowned. “What are you talking about?”
At that moment, Detective Ruiz entered with officers behind him.
“Clear the area,” he ordered.
He didn’t look at Claire first.
He looked at the ceiling cameras.
Then at the landing.
Then at the pregnant woman.
“All feeds confirmed?” Ruiz asked.
A technician nodded. “Full recording. Audio included.”
Claire’s breath hitched.
“What recording?”
The detective raised his hand.
And the voice of Claire filled the hall.
“You ruined my life!”
Followed by the shove.
Followed by the impact.
Claire stumbled backward. “No—wait—that’s edited—”
But Ruiz shook his head.
“No. It’s uninterrupted.”
The pregnant woman finally looked at Claire.
“This house has been under surveillance for three weeks,” she said.
Claire’s lips parted in disbelief.
“What… who are you?”
The pregnant woman slowly stood, supported by an officer now.
“My name isn’t the victim you thought I was.”
A pause.
“I’m the prosecutor assigned to your husband’s corruption case.”
May you like
The room went silent.
Even Claire stopped breathing.
