Chapter 1 - The Recorded Betrayal
Nathan's knuckles split across Damian's jaw with the force of a sledgehammer.
Damian crashed into the mahogany banister, spitting crimson blood onto the polished hardwood floor.
At the foot of the stairs, Maya remained curled in a defensive ball, her trembling hands shielding her seven-month pregnant belly.
Gregory Cross did not even flinch as his eldest son hit the floor.
"You strike your own brother over a clumsy woman's theatrics, Nathan?" Gregory sneered, his cold eyes narrowing.
"Control yourself before I have security drag you out of my house."
Nathan ignored his father, his eyes locked entirely on the glowing screen in young Toby's trembling hands.
The unlocked phone was still displaying the high-definition video player.
Nathan snatched the device, his thumb pressing the rewind button on the media bar.
The footage was shockingly clear, captured by Damian's front-facing camera resting on the hallway console.
It showed Maya reaching for the brass handrail to carefully walk down the stairs.
Then it showed Damian creeping up from behind with a calculated smirk on his face.
Damian had intentionally placed both palms squarely against Maya's lower back and shoved with all his strength.
The camera's high-gain microphone caught Damian's cold whisper right before the push: "Say goodbye to your bastard heir."
Nathan felt the blood drain from his face, replaced by a volcanic surge of pure fury.
"You planned this," Nathan whispered, his voice vibrating with lethal stillness.
Damian scrambled backward against the wall, clutching his bleeding mouth as panic flared in his eyes.
"Dad told me to do it!" Damian shrieked, pointing a shaking finger at Gregory.
"He said we couldn't let her carry the baby to term or the grandfather's inheritance would bypass us completely!"
The entire room of high-society guests gasped in horror.
Maya let out a sharp, agonized cry, her fingers gripping Nathan's sleeve as dark red blood began to stain her white maternity dress.
Nathan dropped to his knees, scooping Maya into his arms with frantic urgency.
"Call 911 right now!" Nathan roared at the petrified staff.
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Gregory calmly pulled an electronic remote from his pocket and pressed a black button.
The heavy steel security shutters over every window and door slammed shut with deafening thuds, sealing the entire estate in total darkness.
