Chapter 1 - The Unseen Target
The entire ballroom held its breath.
Mr. Moreto’s cold eyes followed the tiny finger of the three-year-old girl.
Lily pointed directly at a man standing just inches behind Ethan.
The man was Marcus.
He was the family’s most trusted advisor.
Marcus had been standing by Mr. Moreto's side for over twenty years.
His face instantly drained of all color.
He tried to force a polite laugh.
"Sir, the child is clearly confused," Marcus stammered nervously.
He took a slow step backward away from the ruined cake.
Two heavily armed security guards immediately stepped in to block his path.
Mr. Moreto stood up slowly.
His towering figure cast a dark shadow over the brightly lit room.
"Check him," Mr. Moreto ordered with a voice as cold as ice.
Marcus panicked.
He lunged forward before anyone could react.
Instead of running for the exit, he grabbed the closest thing to him.
He snatched seven-year-old Ethan by the collar of his shirt.
A collective scream erupted from the wealthy guests.
Marcus pulled a silver hunting blade from inside his tailored jacket.
He pressed the sharp edge against the young boy's throat.
Ethan squeezed his eyes shut in pure terror.
"Nobody move!" Marcus yelled frantically.
His polished and professional demeanor was completely gone.
Sweat dripped heavily down his forehead.
Anna pulled Lily behind her legs to shield her from the madness.
Her heart hammered violently against her ribs.
"Let my son go," Mr. Moreto said without a single tremor in his voice.
He did not show an ounce of fear.
"You took everything from me, Victor!" Marcus screamed in return.
"The poison in the cake was just the beginning."
He began to drag Ethan toward the grand mahogany exit doors.
The security team drew their weapons but could not get a clear shot.
"I said drop the knife, Marcus," Mr. Moreto repeated dangerously.
"Or what?" Marcus sneered.
"You cannot stop what is already in motion tonight."
Marcus reached the heavy doors and kicked them open.
A gunshot suddenly echoed through the massive ballroom.
Marcus froze in his tracks.
A dark red stain blossomed across the shoulder of his white dinner jacket.
He dropped the knife with a loud clatter.
Ethan scrambled away and ran straight into his father’s protective arms.
Security swarmed Marcus and pinned him violently to the marble floor.
The immediate threat seemed to be neutralized.
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Mr. Moreto held his sobbing son tightly against his chest.
Then, every single light in the massive mansion abruptly went out.
