Chapter 10 - The Woman Everyone Blamed
Vanessa was arrested before sunrise.
News cameras surrounded the Grand Aurelia Palace.
The video of Grace stopping the slap had already spread across social media.
Millions watched Vanessa raise her hand.
Millions watched Grace catch her wrist.
Millions watched Adrian discover what happened.
By breakfast, Grace had become an accidental symbol.
THE MAID WHO SAID NO.
THE WOMAN WHO STOOD UP TO POWER.
Grace hated every headline.
Because none mentioned Thomas Miller.
Vanessa requested one visitor.
Grace.
Against Adrian’s advice, she went.
Vanessa sat behind glass without makeup or diamonds.
She looked exhausted.
“You think I poisoned Martin.”
“Your fingerprint was on the syringe.”
“I touched that syringe after pulling it out of my own neck.”
Grace stared.
Vanessa leaned closer.
“Martin wasn’t the only one attacked.”
She pulled aside her collar.
A small puncture mark showed beneath her jaw.
“Someone grabbed me in the service tunnel.”
Grace said nothing.
“I woke up in a storage room.”
“Convenient.”
“Extremely.”
“Why didn’t you tell police?”
“Because I don’t trust them.”
Grace almost laughed.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Maybe you should start listening.”
Vanessa explained that her father had left her encrypted financial records.
She spent years believing they were legitimate business files.
Six months ago, she discovered transfers continuing long after Charles died.
Someone still used accounts bearing the Sinclair name.
Vanessa traced them to Blackwood contractors.
“Martin?”
“Some.”
“Victor?”
Vanessa’s eyes hardened.
“My uncle is dead.”
Grace placed the Prague photograph against the glass.
Vanessa stared.
For the first time, genuine terror appeared on her face.
“Where did you get that?”
“Eleanor.”
Vanessa whispered.
“No.”
“So he’s alive.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“When I was sixteen, my father told me Victor betrayed him.”
“How?”
“He wanted to expose everything.”
Grace stared at her.
“Victor was the whistleblower?”
“He tried to be.”
“Then why disappear?”
“My father threatened Victor’s family.”
Vanessa looked at the photograph again.
“He vanished to protect them.”
Grace’s mind raced.
“Why did you confront Eleanor last night?”
“I thought she knew who was using the accounts.”
“And why did you raise your hand?”
Vanessa looked ashamed.
“Because she told me my father had probably murdered Thomas Miller.”
“That’s not an excuse.”
“I know.”
Grace had not expected that answer.
Vanessa continued.
“I was angry.”
“I was cruel.”
“And you stopped me from doing something unforgivable.”
Grace watched her.
“You still threatened me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vanessa gave a humorless smile.
“Because humiliation and fear make me stupid.”
Grace almost believed her.
Then Vanessa leaned toward the glass.
“But none of that matters now.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor isn’t hunting Eleanor.”
Grace felt dread crawl up her spine.
“Who is he hunting?”
May you like
Vanessa looked directly into her eyes.
“You.”
