Chapter 2 - The Accomplice
I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle my terrified gasp.
Marcus, Nathan's own brother, was helping Vanessa destroy him.
I watched as Marcus placed a fresh vial of poison on the nightstand.
He hung up the phone and walked into the adjoining bathroom.
I knew this was my only chance to escape.
I quickly pulled out my phone and took a clear photograph of the hidden vials.
I crept out of the closet as silently as a ghost.
I slipped through the bedroom door just as the bathroom sink turned on.
I ran down the grand staircase and found Nathan in his private study.
I locked the door behind me and showed him the photograph on my phone.
I told him everything I had just heard Marcus say.
Nathan fell back into his leather chair, completely heartbroken.
He had trusted Marcus with his entire billion-dollar tech company.
Nathan realized they were conspiring to take over the family empire together.
He immediately called his private investigator, an old friend named Mr. Sterling.
Nathan gave Sterling the tainted wine glass to test at an independent laboratory.
He also told me to pack a small bag for Sophia, just in case we needed to run.
Nathan promised he would protect us from his dangerous family.
Sterling called Nathan later that evening.
The news he delivered was absolutely terrifying.
The poison was a rare synthetic chemical designed to destroy auditory nerves.
It was completely untraceable in standard medical blood work.
Sterling said he was bringing the official lab report directly to the mansion.
Nathan and I waited in the study for two agonizing hours.
Sterling never arrived.
Nathan's phone rang with an unknown local number.
A police officer was on the other end of the line.
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Sterling's car had been found at the bottom of a steep, rocky ravine.
The vehicle was completely burned, and the lab report was gone.
