Chapter 3 - The Price of Silence
The ballroom descended into an absolute, suffocating silence following Emily’s terrifying accusation.
Vance froze completely in his tracks, his deeply scarred face paling as every wealthy guest in the room turned to stare at him.
Daniel instantly stepped between his fragile daughter and his head of security, his fists clenched tight enough to draw blood from his own palms.
“Everyone get out of my house right now!” Daniel roared, his voice shaking the crystal glasses on the catering tables.
The socialites and billionaires practically trampled each other as they frantically rushed toward the heavy oak doors, eager to escape the escalating billionaire family drama.
Within exactly ten minutes, the grand ballroom was completely empty except for Daniel, Emily, Leo, Victoria, and a visibly sweating Vance.
Daniel ordered Vance to surrender his weapon and immediately confine himself to the security barracks until a full private investigation could be launched.
Vance glared dangerously at Leo but wisely handed over his heavy sidearm, storming out of the mansion into the cold night air.
With the immediate threat gone, Daniel gently picked up Emily and carried her up the grand staircase to her secure bedroom, leaving Leo alone in the vast foyer.
Leo stood quietly by the massive front doors, fully expecting to be thrown out into the freezing rain now that his job was seemingly done.
Instead, the sharp clicking of expensive heels echoed across the marble floor as Victoria gracefully descended the stairs.
She stopped right in front of the dirty boy, a chillingly artificial smile painted across her beautiful face.
“You played a very impressive little trick tonight, you disgusting little rat,” she whispered, making sure her voice wouldn't carry to the upper floors.
Leo stared back at her without blinking, crossing his thin arms over his ragged shirt to ward off the sudden chill in her presence.
Victoria reached into her designer handbag and smoothly pulled out a perfectly crisp, heavily loaded checkbook.
“I am going to write you a check for two million dollars, tax-free, right here and now,” she offered, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous, calculating light.
“All you have to do is take this money, walk out those giant doors, and never, ever come back to this city again.”
Leo looked down at the expensive checkbook and then back up at Victoria’s desperate, furious eyes.
“I don't care about your dirty money, lady,” Leo replied smoothly, his voice completely devoid of any temptation.
“I came here to keep a promise to a dying woman who asked me to make sure her little girl was safe from the monsters living in her house.”
Victoria’s fake smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of absolute, unhinged malice that twisted her beautiful features into something demonic.
She leaned in so close that Leo could smell the overwhelming scent of her expensive jasmine perfume mixed with raw panic.
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“I highly suggest you reconsider my generous offer, boy,” Victoria hissed softly into his ear.
“Because the last person who started asking questions about what happened on that mountain road ended up drowning in the lake behind this very house.”
