Chapter 1 - The Woman in the GardenFor three long seconds, nobody moved.
The courtyard had gone unnaturally quiet.
The fountain continued to murmur in the center of the estate, sending silver droplets into the afternoon sunlight. Somewhere beyond the hedges, a gardener’s shears clicked rhythmically. But around the polished stone terrace, even the security guards seemed afraid to breathe.
Genevieve Vance stared at Julian as though he had spoken in another language.
“Your sister?”
Her voice came out thin.
Julian did not answer her immediately.
He stood beside the open patio doors, his charcoal suit immaculate, his expression colder than the marble beneath his shoes.
Meredith had already removed her denim apron.
She folded it once.
Twice.
Then placed it over the stone railing.
Only after that did she look at Julian.
“You were going to tell her eventually, weren’t you?”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“I was.”
Genevieve looked from one sibling to the other.
A nervous laugh escaped her.
“This is ridiculous.”
Nobody joined her.
She pointed toward Meredith.
“She was cleaning the terrace.”
“Yes,” Julian said.
“She was wearing an apron.”
“Yes.”
“She told me I shouldn’t have crossed a line.”
“Yes.”
Genevieve’s eyes widened.
“So you’re taking her side?”
Julian finally looked directly at her.
“I’m not taking anyone’s side.”
He paused.
“I’m telling you the truth.”
Genevieve’s breathing became shallow.
“The truth is that Meredith Sterling controls the Sterling Family Trust.”
The color vanished from Genevieve’s face.
Julian continued.
“That trust owns this estate. It owns the private investment company that manages my inheritance. It owns the controlling shares in seven companies. And because Father made Meredith trustee, she has veto authority over every major financial decision involving the family.”
Genevieve swallowed.
She knew the Sterling family was wealthy.
She knew Julian was wealthy.
She had always assumed the fortune belonged to him.
She had never imagined that Julian’s older sister was the gatekeeper standing between him and almost all of it.
Meredith walked toward Genevieve.
There was nothing cruel in her expression.
That somehow made it worse.
“You called me a peasant,” Meredith said quietly.
Genevieve looked away.
“You called my hands disgusting.”
A pause.
“You said people like me did not deserve to breathe the same air as you.”
Genevieve’s lips trembled.
“I was angry.”
“No.”
Meredith’s gaze hardened.
“You were comfortable.”
That sentence landed harder than a slap.
Julian turned to security.
“Escort Miss Vance to the main gate.”
Genevieve grabbed his sleeve.
“No.”
Julian looked down at her hand.
She released him immediately.
“You cannot do this,” she whispered.
“I can.”
“Our engagement party is tonight.”
“Not anymore.”
“You’re humiliating me.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
“You humiliated yourself.”
Genevieve stared at him.
Then she turned toward Meredith.
“You planned this.”
Meredith frowned.
“You threw your own drink onto the floor.”
“You knew Julian was watching.”
“I did not know.”
“You knew!”
Genevieve’s voice cracked.
Meredith said nothing.
That silence seemed to make Genevieve even more desperate.
“You wanted to ruin me.”
Meredith stepped closer.
“No, Genevieve.”
She lowered her voice.
“I wanted to see who you were when you thought nobody important was watching.”
Genevieve froze.
Julian turned away.
Two security officers approached.
“Miss Vance.”
Genevieve resisted them.
“I am Julian Sterling’s fiancée!”
One guard remained expressionless.
“Not anymore.”
She was escorted through the courtyard.
Her emerald dress caught on a rose branch.
A diamond earring fell into the gravel.
Genevieve screamed at Julian.
He never turned around.
Inside the house, Meredith watched her disappear through the gates.
“She’s dangerous,” Meredith said.
Julian loosened his tie.
“I know.”
“You still planned to marry her.”
“I made a mistake.”
Meredith looked toward the driveway.
“No.”
She picked up her denim apron.
“You made a decision without knowing what she was capable of.”
Julian’s expression changed.
“What are you talking about?”
Meredith reached into the apron pocket.
She withdrew a small black flash drive.
“I found this in the greenhouse.”
Julian stared at it.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know.”
Meredith held it out.
“But I think Genevieve does.”
Julian took the drive.
A notification appeared on his phone.
One message.
Unknown number.
YOU JUST MADE THE WRONG WOMAN YOUR ENEMY.
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
Another message appeared.
This time, it contained a photograph.
It was a photograph of Meredith.
Taken three days earlier.
Standing alone in the greenhouse.
But someone had circled her face in red.
And beneath it, someone had written four words.
SHE KNOWS TOO MUCH.
Julian looked at his sister.
Meredith was no longer calm.
For the first time that afternoon, fear appeared in her eyes.
“Julian,” she whispered.
“We need to find out who sent that.”
Another notification appeared.
May you like
THE WEDDING WAS NEVER ABOUT LOVE.
And then the phone went black.
