Chapter 3 - The Silent Witness
All eyes in the grand foyer suddenly shifted to Maria.
The young maid shrank back against the floral wallpaper, clutching her white apron in her shaking hands.
She knew that the Sterling family could destroy her life, get her deported, or ruin her family with a single phone call.
Chloe stood up, walking slowly toward Maria like a predator cornering a helpless rabbit.
"Tell the detective what you saw, Maria," Chloe instructed, her voice dripping with a subtle, terrifying threat.
"Tell him how Emma lunged at me like a madwoman."
Maria opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, only a quiet, choked gasp.
From the floor, as she was being lifted onto a stretcher, Emma found the last reserve of her strength.
"Maria, you don't have to protect them anymore," Emma said, her voice echoing clearly through the silent room.
"I have already given the detective the security footage from the hidden camera in the hallway chandelier."
The color completely drained from Chloe’s face, leaving her looking like a ghost haunting her own mansion.
"What hidden camera?" Arthur roared, his face turning a dangerous shade of purple as he looked up at the crystal fixture.
"The one I installed three months ago when I realized this family was trying to slowly poison my food to force a miscarriage," Emma stated plainly.
A collective gasp echoed from the paramedics and the police officers in the room.
Vance looked at the maid, offering her a kind, protective nod.
"You are safe now, Maria, but I need you to confirm what actually happened here tonight," the detective said gently.
Tears spilled out of Maria’s eyes as the heavy burden of fear finally lifted from her young shoulders.
"Miss Chloe pushed her," Maria sobbed, pointing a shaking finger directly at the woman in the green dress.
"Miss Emma was just walking down the stairs, and Miss Chloe ran up behind her and shoved her with both hands!"
"You lying little rat!" Chloe screamed, lunging forward with her hands outstretched toward the maid's throat.
Two police officers instantly intercepted Chloe, grabbing her arms and wrestling her back forcefully.
"Get your filthy hands off me, do you know who I am?" Chloe thrashed wildly, kicking her expensive heels at the officers' shins.
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"I know exactly who you are, Chloe Sterling," Detective Vance said, stepping forward with a pair of heavy steel handcuffs.
"You are under arrest for the attempted murder of your sister-in-law and her unborn child."
