Chapter 1 – The Truth Walks Through the Front Door
Chapter 1 – The Truth Walks Through the Front Door
The housekeeper froze.
"What... what did you just say?"
The pregnant woman didn't answer.
She slowly lowered the phone and continued breathing through the pain.
Within seconds, the distant sound of sirens shattered the silence outside the mansion.
The blonde woman's face lost all color.
"What is this?" she whispered.
The front doors burst open.
Detective Ruiz stepped inside with six officers.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
Only purpose.
"Nobody leaves this house."
The blonde immediately ran toward him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Thank God you're here! She attacked me! She tried to throw herself at me and—"
Ruiz didn't even look at her.
Instead, he walked straight past.
He knelt beside the injured pregnant woman.
"Mrs. Carter."
She nodded once.
"Everything recorded?"
Ruiz glanced toward the tiny crystal brooch pinned beneath her coat.
The hidden camera's indicator light blinked once.
"Every second."
Silence swallowed the hallway.
The blonde blinked.
"...Camera?"
Ruiz stood.
"Not just the camera."
He turned toward another officer.
"Bring in the forensic team."
The woman began shaking.
"I... I don't understand..."
Ruiz calmly pointed toward the staircase.
"Three hidden cameras."
"Two audio recorders."
"One live police surveillance warrant."
The old housekeeper gasped.
The blonde staggered backward.
"No..."
Ruiz's expression remained emotionless.
"For the past six weeks, we've been investigating multiple attempts to harm Mrs. Carter and her unborn child."
Every eye turned toward the blonde.
She suddenly couldn't breathe.
"Someone cut her brake lines."
"Someone poisoned her prenatal vitamins."
"Someone sabotaged the nursery's gas heater."
Each sentence landed like another hammer.
"And today..."
Ruiz looked directly into her eyes.
"...that someone finally revealed herself."
An officer placed a tablet on the table.
The video began playing.
Everyone watched in stunned silence.
There was no argument.
No struggle.
Only one clear image.
The blonde looking around...
Making sure nobody was watching...
Then violently shoving the pregnant woman down the stairs.
The recording ended.
No one spoke.
Then the blonde collapsed onto her knees.
"This... this isn't what it looks like..."
May you like
Ruiz answered quietly.
"It looks exactly like attempted murder."
