Chapter 3 - The Blood in the StudyThe east wing was sealed within minutes.
Security guards blocked every corridor.
Guests who had arrived expecting champagne and gossip now stood clustered beneath chandeliers, whispering about blood, missing servants, and the young heiress who had nearly died on the staircase.
The evening had become a scandal.
But Richard Vale was not concerned about scandal.
He was concerned about control.
“Find Arthur,” he ordered.
Three guards disappeared into the eastern corridor.
Isabella watched from her wheelchair.
The pain medication had dulled her injuries but sharpened her fear.
Nathan stood beside her.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I live here.”
“You were nearly killed here.”
Isabella looked at him.
“Do you believe me?”
Nathan hesitated.
“Yes.”
That answer nearly broke her.
“Then why did you tell my father I slipped?”
Nathan lowered his voice.
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
“No. I told him what I remembered.”
Isabella stared at him.
“You remember me falling.”
“I remember someone grabbing you.”
She froze.
“Who?”
Nathan looked toward Celeste.
“I don't know.”
“Did you see her?”
“Only for a second.”
“And?”
Nathan's jaw tightened.
“I saw Celeste behind you.”
Isabella's heart pounded.
“Then why didn't you say that?”
“Because your father threatened to cancel the engagement.”
She stared at him.
“What?”
“He told me that if I accused Celeste publicly, he'd destroy my family.”
Isabella whispered:
“My father threatened you?”
Nathan nodded.
“That isn't all.”
“What else?”
Nathan leaned closer.
“I found something before you fell.”
He reached inside his jacket.
Isabella's eyes widened.
A photograph.
Old.
Edges yellowed.
Three people stood in front of the Vale estate.
Richard.
Helena.
And a younger woman Isabella didn't recognize.
“What is this?”
Nathan pointed to the woman.
“She was your mother's sister.”
Isabella stared.
“My mother was an only child.”
“That is what your father said.”
“Who is she?”
“I don't know.”
“Where did you get this?”
“In the study.”
Isabella's pulse quickened.
“Before the party?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you show me?”
Nathan looked ashamed.
“Because someone walked in.”
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
Isabella already knew.
Celeste.
Nathan nodded.
“She told me to leave.”
Suddenly a crash echoed from the east wing.
Everyone turned.
A guard came running.
“Sir!”
Richard stepped forward.
“What happened?”
“We found the study.”
“And?”
“The blood belonged to Arthur.”
Isabella's stomach dropped.
“Is he dead?”
The guard hesitated.
“We haven't found him.”
Richard's voice turned cold.
“Search everything.”
A second guard appeared.
“Sir, there's something else.”
“What?”
“The study safe is open.”
Richard went rigid.
“What's missing?”
“A file.”
“What file?”
The guard swallowed.
“Your wife's medical records.”
Helena gasped.
Isabella stared at her.
“Mother's records?”
Richard's face became stone.
“Everyone leaves.”
The guests protested.
Security immediately began escorting them out.
Isabella noticed Celeste quietly moving toward the staircase.
“Celeste!”
Her sister stopped.
Isabella stared at the blood stain again.
“What was in Mother's medical records?”
Celeste slowly turned.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
Celeste smiled faintly.
“You've been saying that all night.”
Then she approached.
She bent down beside Isabella.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“If you keep digging, Isabella, you'll discover why Mother really died.”
Isabella's breath caught.
Celeste straightened.
Then she walked away.
Nathan watched her leave.
“She knows something.”
Isabella nodded.
“I think she knows everything.”
At that moment, every light in the mansion flickered.
The chandeliers went dark.
Someone screamed.
A second later, backup power restored the hall.
But one thing had changed.
The photograph was gone from Isabella's hand.
Nathan searched frantically.
“It was right here.”
Isabella looked up.
Across the hall, Celeste stood near the doorway.
Holding the photograph.
Their eyes met.
Celeste slowly tore it in half.
May you like
Then she smiled.
And disappeared into the darkness of the east wing.
