Chapter 3 - The Ledger of Lies
The hidden room wasn't a dungeon; it was a command center.
The walls were plastered with printed photographs, financial documents, and legal blueprints of my estate, my company, and Emily’s trust fund. But what chilled me to the bone was a meticulously organized medical station in the corner. Vials of unmarked liquids, syringes, and a mortar and pestle sat next to Emily’s daily vitamins.
For the past six months, Emily had been suffering from chronic fatigue and dizzy spells. We’d seen three specialists who couldn't diagnose her. My heart hammered against my ribs. Beatrice was slowly poisoning her own daughter.
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I found a leather-bound ledger on the desk. It wasn't just Emily. There were records of Beatrice's late husband, whose sudden heart attack had left her entirely dependent on us. The symptoms listed in her neat handwriting perfectly matched his autopsy report.
And then, I found the custody papers. They were forged documents, declaring both Emily and me mentally unfit, naming Beatrice as Chloe’s sole legal guardian—and by extension, the controller of her multi-million dollar trust. She was planning to eliminate us both.
