CHAPTER 3: THE FALL DOWN THE STAIRS
Adrian stepped between the two women.
Protective.
Instinctive.
Victoria immediately backed away.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
"What happened, Elena?"
His voice softened.
Elena closed her eyes.
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"The baby almost died."
The room stopped breathing.
Adrian felt his heart drop.
"What?"
"It happened two months ago."
Victoria looked ready to run.
Ready to disappear.
Too late.
Elena slowly lifted her eyes and looked directly at Adrian.
Then she spoke the words that shattered everything.
"She pushed me."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Guests.
Staff.
Security.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Elena's voice barely rose above a whisper.
But every word struck like thunder.
"She pushed me down the stairs."
And in that instant, Victoria Ashford's perfect mask finally cracked.
Because the woman she tried to erase...
had survived.
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And she wasn't carrying a secret anymore.
She was carrying the truth.
