Chapter 3 - Whispers In The Dark
Carla gasped loudly, the silver tray slipping from her trembling hands.
The heavy ceramic teapot crashed onto the floor, shattering into a dozen pieces.
Massimo immediately collapsed back into his wheelchair, his chest heaving with exhaustion.
"Mister Rinaldi, you were standing," Carla whispered, staring at his legs in utter disbelief.
Massimo held up a shaking finger to his lips, begging her to stay quiet.
"Close the door, Carla, and lock it," he ordered in a low, desperate voice.
She hurriedly locked the heavy wooden door and rushed to his side.
Massimo quickly explained everything about the neurotoxin, Doctor Hale, and Dean's devastating betrayal.
Carla listened with tears welling in her eyes, terrified for the man who had always been kind to her daughter.
"You must leave this house with Nina immediately," Massimo warned her.
Carla shook her head fiercely, refusing to abandon him while he was completely vulnerable.
She promised to be his eyes and ears in the mansion until he regained his full strength.
The next afternoon, Carla was hanging laundry in the secluded garden behind the greenhouse.
She heard soft voices approaching and quickly hid behind a row of tall hedges.
Dean and Camille were walking arm in arm, laughing quietly together.
"Doctor Hale says the poison is causing permanent organ damage now," Camille whispered happily.
"Good," Dean replied, stopping to pull her into a passionate kiss.
Carla covered her mouth with both hands to muffle her gasp.
"I will forge his signature on the transfer documents tomorrow morning," Dean continued.
Camille smiled against his lips and asked what they would do with Massimo afterward.
"We will smother him in his sleep and blame it on heart failure," Dean said coldly.
Carla took a frightened step backward, her foot landing heavily on a dry branch.
The loud crack echoed through the quiet garden like a gunshot.
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Dean instantly pushed Camille behind him and drew a silenced pistol from his jacket.
He slowly began walking toward the exact bush where Carla was hiding.
