Chapter 6: The Unveiling
Chapter 6: The Unveiling
Julian tapped the microphone. A piercing feedback whine silenced the murmuring crowd. Hundreds of eyes turned toward the stage. Bianca stood near the center of the room, looking mildly amused, waiting for Julian to humiliate himself.
"Thank you all for coming tonight to support the Hale Foundation," Julian began, his voice echoing through the grand ballroom. "As many of you know, my family has been the subject of vicious rumors this past week. Rumors initiated by my former fiancée, Bianca Laurent."
A collective gasp rippled through the room. It was incredibly rare for a man of Julian's stature to address tabloid gossip publicly.
"Bianca claims she fled my home in terror," Julian continued, gesturing to the massive projector screens flanking the stage. "She claims my mother is suffering from dementia. I believe in transparency. So, I will let the events of last Tuesday speak for themselves."
The lights dimmed. The massive screens flickered to life.
The high-definition footage from the pool camera played. The crisp audio cut through the silent ballroom. The crowd watched in absolute horror as the scene unfolded. They saw Martha struggling in the water. They heard her desperate pleas for help.
And then, the audio played loud and clear: "After I marry him, this house will finally be mine... After the wedding, you won't be around long enough to complain."
They watched Bianca nudge Martha's fingers away from the edge with her heel.
The video ended. The lights came back up. The silence in the room was deafening.
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Julian looked down from the stage directly at Bianca. The smugness was completely erased from her face. She was pale, her mouth slightly open in shock. Victor Vance physically dropped her arm and stepped away from her as if she were radioactive.
"The police are waiting in the lobby, Beatrice," Julian said, using her real name. "I suggest you don't keep them waiting."
