Chapter 1: The Truth Behind the Fall
The knife never reached Emily.
Before Victor could lunge again, the maid—Maria Alvarez—grabbed his wrist with both hands.
The blade stopped only inches from Emily's swollen stomach.
"Run!" Maria shouted.
Emily stumbled backward, still dizzy from tumbling down the marble staircase. Pain shot through her ankle, but instinct was stronger than fear. She wrapped both arms around her unborn baby and crawled toward the front entrance.
Victor shoved Maria aside.
"You old fool!" he snarled. "You ruined everything!"
The wire cutters lay on the polished floor between them.
Several house guests stared silently, unable to process what they had just witnessed.
Then an elderly butler spoke.
"I saw him in the foyer thirty minutes ago."
Every head turned.
"He was standing on a ladder beside the chandelier."
Victor's face lost its color.
"I thought he was checking the lights," the butler continued. "He sent every servant away."
Emily looked at her husband in disbelief.
"You... planned this?"
Victor forced a laugh.
"She's confused. She hit her head."
But Maria slowly reached into the pocket of her apron.
"I knew no one would believe me."
She pulled out a small digital voice recorder.
"I've been recording everything since yesterday."
She pressed Play.
Victor's voice echoed through the silent mansion.
"Once she's dead, the baby dies with her. Everything comes to me."
The room froze.
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Emily felt her heart stop.
She had married a man who had already planned her funeral.
