Chapter 2 – The Truth Above Their Heads
Chapter 2 – The Truth Above Their Heads
Detective Alan Brooks slowly held up the wire cutters.
"Mr. Carter..."
"Would you like to explain why these contain fresh steel cable?"
Daniel forced a laugh.
"They're not mine."
"You watched them fall from your pocket."
The guests exchanged uneasy glances.
Maria struggled to her feet despite the pain in her shoulder.
"I saw him this afternoon."
Everyone turned toward her.
"He told me not to clean the upper landing."
"When I looked up, I noticed one of the chandelier cables had been partially cut."
"I tried to warn Mrs. Carter..."
"There wasn't enough time."
Emily looked at her husband in disbelief.
"You knew?"
Daniel's expression hardened.
"I've worked too hard to lose everything."
The detective frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel's eyes shifted toward Emily's stomach.
"The baby changes the inheritance."
The room froze.
Emily's grandfather's fortune was protected by a family trust.
If Emily died before giving birth...
Daniel would inherit nearly everything.
If both Emily and the baby survived...
The fortune would remain in the Carter family for another generation.
Detective Brooks quietly radioed for backup.
Daniel noticed.
His calm disappeared.
Without warning, he reached inside his jacket.
A knife flashed beneath the chandelier's broken light.
Emily gasped.
Daniel lunged toward her.
Before anyone else could move—
Maria stepped directly between them.
"No!"
The blade struck Maria in the side as security guards tackled Daniel to the floor.
Emily caught Maria before she collapsed.
"Why would you do that?"
Maria smiled weakly.
"Because..."
"...your baby deserves a mother."
Sirens echoed outside.
May you like
This time...
They weren't too late.
