Chapter 2 - THE POISON IN THE CHAMPAGNE
"What do you mean, Adrian?"
Luca’s voice didn't rise. It didn't have to. The terrifying stillness in his tone made the crystal glasses on the table seem to vibrate.
Adrian couldn't look at his oldest friend. He stared at the silk tablecloth.
"She wasn't going to marry you, Luca. She just needed to get to the altar."
Vanessa’s chair scraped violently against the hardwood floor as she stood.
"He's lying! Luca, he’s trying to ruin us because I rejected him!"
But Luca didn't look at her. He didn't even blink. He kept his dark eyes fixed on Adrian.
"Explain."
Adrian’s hands were shaking. He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper. It looked like a travel itinerary.
"She booked two first-class tickets to Buenos Aires, Luca. For Saturday night. Three hours after you were supposed to say your vows."
Vanessa lunged for the paper, but Luca caught her wrist mid-air. He didn't squeeze. He just held her there, an immovable wall of quiet fury.
"Who is the second ticket for, Adrian?" Luca asked softly.
"Me." Adrian finally looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "She told me once you signed the marriage certificate, the marital trust would activate. She’d have access to the offshore accounts. We were supposed to disappear before the reception ended."
The dining room erupted into horrified whispers. Thirty wealthy guests, all staring at the woman in the red silk gown.
Allison sat perfectly still. Her dignity was a shield, but I could see the devastation in her eyes. Seventeen years of marriage, thrown away for stolen money and a younger woman.
"Adrian," Allison whispered. "You have a son."
The mention of their eight-year-old boy, Leo, made Adrian flinch.
"I know, Allie. I know."
"Did you plan to leave him, too?"
Adrian covered his face. "She said we'd send for him later. When the dust settled."
I felt sick to my stomach. I gripped my silver serving tray so hard my knuckles turned white. I thought of my own mother, recovering at home, and how fiercely she had protected me my whole life. The idea of abandoning a child was something I couldn't comprehend.
Vanessa ripped her wrist from Luca’s grasp.
"This is insane!" she screamed, her perfect facade completely shattered. "He’s obsessed with me! He forged those tickets!"
Luca slowly took the itinerary from Adrian. He unfolded it. He read the names. Then, he looked at the date.
"Emily," Luca said, without turning around.
"Yes, sir?" I stepped forward, my heart pounding.
"Go to Vanessa's suite. Bring me the leather travel case from her closet."
Vanessa froze. The color drained completely from her face.
"Luca, no. You can't let the help go through my things."
"Bring it, Emily."
I set my tray down and hurried toward the grand staircase. My hands were trembling as I climbed the steps. The mansion was dead silent, save for the echo of my own footsteps.
I opened the door to the master suite. It smelled of expensive perfume and roses. I went straight to the walk-in closet and found the vintage leather travel case sitting perfectly packed in the corner.
But as I lifted it, the heavy gold clasp popped open.
Items spilled onto the thick carpet. Designer clothes. A velvet jewelry box. And something else.
A small, velvet pouch that had untied when it hit the floor.
I knelt down to gather the clothes, but my eyes caught on what had fallen out of the pouch. It wasn't jewelry. It was a small, amber-colored glass vial.
Half-empty.
I picked it up. The label was torn off, but there was a distinct, bitter smell lingering around the cap.
Suddenly, a cold realization washed over me. I remembered pouring the champagne downstairs. I remembered Vanessa insisting that she pour Luca’s glass herself, just before the toasts were supposed to begin.
My breath hitched.
I turned around to run back downstairs, but a heavy hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder, spinning me around.
It wasn't Vanessa.
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It was one of Luca's bodyguards, Marcus. And he was holding a silenced pistol pointing directly at my chest.
"Put the vial down, Emily," he whispered. "Or your mother won't have a nurse tomorrow. She won't have a daughter, either."
