Chapter 1 - The Traitor's Arrival
I squeezed my eyes shut and braced for the agonizing impact of the iron rod.
Instead of shattering my skull, the heavy poker froze in mid-air.
The grand mahogany doors of the foyer suddenly burst open with a deafening crash.
Three armed security guards stormed into the room, their weapons drawn.
Behind them walked Marcus Thorne, my grandmother's trusted estate attorney, looking impeccably calm in his tailored suit.
My heart soared with relief as I looked at the man who had promised to protect my inheritance.
"You are just in time, Marcus," I gasped, clutching my throbbing shoulder.
Richard dropped the iron poker, his face draining of color as the guards surrounded him.
Evelyn practically tripped over her designer heels as she tried to hide the freshly signed documents behind her back.
Chloe lowered her smartphone, her arrogant smirk instantly replaced by genuine terror.
"Arrest them," I ordered the guards, struggling to pull myself up from the cold floor.
"They forced me to sign the deeds under extreme physical duress."
Marcus slowly approached the glass coffee table, completely ignoring my bleeding arm.
He extended his hand toward Evelyn, his face completely devoid of any emotion.
"Hand over the paperwork, Evelyn," Marcus demanded in a chillingly quiet voice.
Evelyn hesitated for a fraction of a second before placing the portfolio into his waiting hands.
I expected Marcus to tear the fraudulent contracts into pieces.
Instead, he carefully inspected my shaky signature, a slow, sinister smile creeping across his face.
"Perfect," Marcus whispered, slipping the documents into his own leather briefcase.
I stared at him in absolute disbelief, the bitter taste of betrayal flooding my mouth.
"Marcus, what are you doing?" I choked out.
He finally looked down at me, his eyes as cold and unforgiving as ice.
"Your grandmother was a brilliant woman, Clara, but she paid me a fraction of what your father offered for these estates."
May you like
He turned to the armed guards and gestured toward me.
"Take her down to the cellar and make sure she doesn't survive the night."
