Chapter 2: The Recording Nobody Was Supposed To See
The backyard of the Whitmore Estate had transformed from a celebration into a crime scene of emotions.
Nobody was laughing anymore.
The music had stopped.
The guests who had arrived wearing expensive sunglasses and smiling for photographs were now standing in small groups, whispering and staring.
Victoria remained beside the pool.
Still dry.
Still composed.
Still pretending she had done nothing wrong.
I stood there soaked from head to toe, staring at the device in the estate manager’s hand.
“What is that?”” I asked.
The manager, Daniel, looked uncomfortable.
“It’s from the security system near the pool.””
Victoria immediately stepped forward.
“Daniel, don’t.””
Everyone turned toward her.
Her voice was sharper this time.
“I said don’t.””
Daniel swallowed.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Carter, but I can’t ignore what happened.””
Victoria laughed nervously.
“This is ridiculous. My husband is upset. Everyone is emotional.””
I looked at her.
“My daughter was in the pool.””
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Daniel held the device tighter.
“There’s something else.””
My chest tightened.
“What?””
He looked at the guests around us.
“Before the incident, the camera system was manually disabled for approximately four minutes.””
A wave of whispers spread through the crowd.
Victoria’s expression changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
Then it disappeared.
“You’re accusing me?”” she asked.
Daniel shook his head.
“I’m saying someone turned it off.””
I stepped closer.
“Why would anyone do that?””
Nobody answered.
Because everyone already understood the question.
Victoria looked around at the crowd.
“You’re all seriously listening to this?””
A guest named Sarah, one of Victoria’s friends, lowered her sunglasses.
“Victoria, I saw you near the security panel earlier.””
Victoria turned toward her.
“You’re lying.””
Sarah looked away.
“I’m not.””
The air became heavier.
I looked at my daughter.
The security guard was holding her safely, wrapped in a soft towel. Her tiny face was pressed against his shoulder.
She was crying quietly.
That sound broke something inside me.
I walked toward her.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
The guard handed her back carefully.
“You got to her in time.””
I held Amara close.
But my eyes never left Victoria.
“Why?””
She stared at me.
“What?””
“Why would you do this?””
Her expression hardened.
“You always choose her.””
The words came out so quietly that almost nobody heard them.
But I did.
I froze.
Victoria looked around.
Then she realized everyone had heard.
She tried to recover.
“I mean… you always put the baby first. You never think about me.””
I shook my head slowly.
“She’s a baby.””
Victoria’s jaw tightened.
“And I’m your wife.””
A silence fell over the yard.
Then my phone rang.
I almost ignored it.
But the caller ID made my blood run cold.
It was my lawyer.
I answered.
“Hello?””
His voice was urgent.
“Marcus, where are you right now?””
“I’m at home. What happened?””
A pause.
Then he said something that made me look directly at Victoria.
“Someone accessed Elena’s old estate documents this morning.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What documents?””
“The ones involving your daughter’s inheritance.””
Victoria stopped moving.
My eyes narrowed.
“What does that have to do with her?””
Another pause.
Then my lawyer lowered his voice.
“Marcus… the person who accessed them used Victoria’s identification.””
The entire world seemed to go silent again.
Victoria looked at me.
May you like
And for the first time all day…
She looked afraid.
