Chapter 1: The Trap Was Never About the Fall
Chapter 1: The Trap Was Never About the Fall
The mansion fell into complete silence.
The blonde woman, Vanessa Hale, buried her face in her hands, sobbing loudly enough for every servant to hear.
"I didn't mean to! She slipped! She attacked me first!"
Mrs. Dawson, the elderly housekeeper who had served the Hale family for over thirty years, hurried to comfort her.
"It's alright, Miss Vanessa. We'll explain everything to Mr. Hale."
Not one person bent down to help the pregnant woman.
Not until the sound of sirens shattered the silence outside.
Vanessa's crying paused for just a second.
"Police?"
Before anyone could react, the massive front doors swung open.
Detective Daniel Ruiz entered with two uniformed officers and a forensic photographer.
His eyes ignored Vanessa completely.
Instead, he walked directly toward the woman lying on the stairs.
"Mrs. Eleanor Hale."
He knelt beside her.
"You okay?"
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"My baby is fine."
Ruiz helped her stand carefully.
Only then did Vanessa realize something was terribly wrong.
"W-what is this?"
Ruiz looked at her calmly.
"This is the conclusion of a six-month investigation."
The room froze.
Eleanor slowly removed a small recording device hidden beneath her scarf.
"I told you she'd do it."
Ruiz nodded.
"We heard everything."
Vanessa's face turned white.
"No... that's impossible."
"Oh," Eleanor replied quietly.
"It gets much worse."
Ruiz motioned toward one of his officers.
Another device was pulled from beneath the staircase railing.
Then another hidden inside a flower arrangement.
Three hidden cameras.
Four microphones.
Every angle had been covered.
Vanessa suddenly stopped crying.
For the first time...
The mask disappeared.
"You planned this."
Eleanor's eyes never left hers.
"No."
May you like
She gently rested a hand on her stomach.
"I simply gave you another chance to reveal who you really were."
