Chapter 2: The Secret Behind The Footage
The ballroom remained frozen after the video stopped.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Victoria stood beneath the massive chandelier, staring at the blank tablet screen as if she could somehow erase what everyone had just witnessed.
I had spent years believing I knew the people closest to me.
That night taught me how dangerous that belief could be.
The security officer cleared his throat.
“Sir, the hallway footage shows Miss Victoria entering the east corridor before the incident.””
I looked at him.
“And?””
He glanced at Victoria.
“She wasn’t alone.””
Victoria’s face turned pale.
“That footage is irrelevant,” she said quickly.
“We’re talking about the staircase.””
“No,” I replied.
“We’re talking about everything.””
I took Maya’s hand and kept her close beside me.
Victoria stepped forward, trying to regain control.
“Richard, you’re making a mistake. You’re letting fear cloud your judgment.””
I almost laughed.
Fear?
My daughter had almost fallen down a staircase inside my own home.
“You don’t get to tell me what judgment looks like,” I said.
“Not after tonight.””
She lowered her voice.
“Think carefully before you accuse me. You have no idea what you’re starting.””
The threat was subtle.
But I heard it.
Victoria had stopped pretending.
“Is that supposed to scare me?”” I asked.
Her jaw tightened.
“You’ll regret this.””
Before I could answer, Officer Daniels spoke.
“Mr. Hayes, there’s something else you need to see.””
He brought up another camera angle.
The hallway outside my private office.
My stomach tightened before the footage even played.
Victoria appeared on the screen, speaking with someone standing in the shadows.
The image was blurry, but the voice recording was clear.
“You promised me this would work,” Victoria said.
The room erupted in whispers.
I felt Maya squeeze my hand.
The other person replied quietly.
“Relax. Once Richard loses control, everything changes.””
I stared at the screen.
Everything changes.
Those words repeated in my head.
“Who is that?”” I asked.
The officer looked uncomfortable.
“We’re still identifying them.””
Victoria suddenly moved toward the tablet.
“That proves nothing!””
Security immediately stepped between her and the device.
“You need to stay back, ma’am.””
She glared at me.
“You’re treating me like a criminal.””
I looked at Maya.
Then I looked at Victoria.
“You came into my home, stood next to my child on that staircase, and lied about what happened.””
My voice became colder.
“You don’t get to act like the victim anymore.””
Her expression hardened.
“You think you’ve won?””
I didn’t answer.
Because deep down, I knew this wasn’t over.
People like Victoria didn’t walk away quietly.
They attacked when they were cornered.
She grabbed her purse and headed toward the entrance.
“You’ll hear from my lawyers,” she said.
I followed her with my eyes.
“Leave my estate.””
She stopped.
For a moment, the arrogant woman from earlier returned.
“You have no idea what you’re about to lose.””
Then she walked out.
The doors closed behind her.
I thought that was the end.
I was wrong.
Ten minutes later, while I was comforting Maya upstairs, my phone rang.
It was from an unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I answered.
A man’s voice came through, trembling.
“Mr. Hayes… I know who Victoria was meeting.””
I looked toward Maya sleeping safely in her room.
“Who?””
There was a long pause.
May you like
Then the stranger whispered a name that made my blood run cold.
“Your brother.””
