Chapter 1
The doors locked with a soft mechanical click.
No one moved.
Victor lay beside the collapsed display tower, one hand pressed against his jaw.
Marcia sat against the damaged presentation cabinet with pearls scattered across her lap.
The three relatives who had raised their hands after Victor stood perfectly still.
Bodyguards had taken positions behind each of them.
Anthony remained in the center of the gallery.
His breathing was slow.
Almost too slow.
Laurel had risen from the floor, but one hand still pressed against the place where Marcia had pulled her hair.
Mia clung to her dress.
Anthony looked first at his wife.
Not at the conspirators.
Laurel met his eyes.
Something in hers made his hand tighten once at his side.
He had allowed the humiliation to continue for several seconds.
She knew it.
He knew she knew it.
But there were still four raised hands to explain.
Anthony turned.
“Victor.”
Victor pushed himself upright.
His lip curled.
“You're locking family inside your own gallery now?”
Anthony’s voice remained almost conversational.
“You paid them.”
Victor glanced toward Mia.
A mistake.
The little girl immediately moved closer to Laurel.
Anthony saw it.
“What did she hear?”
Victor wiped blood from his mouth.
“She’s four.”
Anthony waited.
Victor’s confidence held for another three seconds.
Then his gaze shifted toward the relatives behind him.
Anthony noticed.
So did they.
One of the three—a gray-haired cousin named Peter—began breathing faster.
Anthony looked at Mia.
His expression softened.
“You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to.”
Mia’s small fingers twisted in Laurel’s gown.
Then she whispered:
“Uncle Victor gave them envelopes.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
Anthony remained still.
“When?”
“Before Mommy came.”
Laurel looked toward Victor.
Her breath caught.
Mia continued.
“They said they get more after Mommy is gone.”
The room changed.
Marcia looked sharply at Victor.
That reaction mattered.
She had not known that part.
Anthony saw it immediately.
Victor did too.
Marcia’s voice came low.
“What does she mean, gone?”
Victor did not answer her.
Anthony did.
“That is what we're about to find out.”
He looked at Peter.
The man shook his head.
“I don't know anything about that.”
Anthony’s eyes moved to the envelope visible inside Peter’s jacket.
Peter stopped breathing.
“Put it on the table.”
His hand trembled as he removed it.
Two other relatives followed.
Cash.
Each envelope contained the same amount.
Twenty-five thousand dollars.
Marcia slowly turned toward Victor.
Her fingers curled around the arm of the cabinet.
“You told me they supported me.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“They do.”
Peter suddenly spoke.
His voice shook.
“You said this was only for the vote.”
Anthony looked at him.
“What vote?”
Peter realized too late.
Victor closed his eyes.
Marcia’s head turned.
Even she looked confused.
Anthony stepped closer.
“What vote?”
Peter swallowed.
“The second one.”
Silence.
Anthony’s gaze became still.
“There was going to be another vote tonight?”
Peter nodded.
“After Laurel was removed.”
Anthony’s breathing slowed further.
“About what?”
Peter looked at Victor.
Victor stared back at him.
Peter’s courage collapsed.
But not before he whispered:
“About whether you should still control the family.”
Anthony said nothing.
Laurel’s eyes moved toward her husband.
May you like
The public humiliation had never been the entire attack.
It was only supposed to be the first move.
