Chapter 4 - The Web Unravels
Silence hung heavy in the room, suffocating and sharp.
Margaret froze. Her hands slowly released Rosa’s hair.
Her face went through three different expressions in a span of two seconds: shock, terror, and finally, a sickeningly sweet smile.
"Daniel! Oh, thank God you're home!" Margaret gasped, stepping over Rosa as if she were dirt.
"It’s terrible, darling! Ava had another violent episode!"
"She lost her mind, threw herself out of the chair, and this crazy servant girl attacked me when I tried to help her!"
Margaret reached out to touch her son's arm, but Daniel stepped back as if her hand were covered in venom.
"Don't touch me," Daniel whispered, his eyes dark with absolute fury.
He dropped to his knees beside Ava.
"Ava... my God, Ava!"
He pulled her weak body into his arms, feeling how shockingly light she had become.
Ava rested her forehead against his chest, tears soaking through his shirt.
"Daniel..." she gasped softly. "The medicine... she was... poisoning me..."
Daniel’s blood ran cold.
He looked down at the floor.
Beside them was the empty vial Rosa had dropped during the struggle.
He picked it up. He read the pharmaceutical label.
Neuro-Blocker Class IV. Controlled Substance.
Daniel turned his gaze to the mahogany desk.
He picked up the legal document.
VANCE TRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT TRANSFER.
Signed by Margaret Sterling as legal guardian.
Awaiting Ava’s forced signature.
"You sent me to London..." Daniel said, his voice terrifyingly calm as he stood up.
"You told me she was sick."
"You told me you were taking care of her."
"While you were slowly paralyzing my wife to steal her family's trust!"
"Daniel, listen to me!" Margaret panicked, her voice rising to a screech.
"I did this for us! For the family!"
"The Sterling company is going bankrupt! We owe fifty million dollars to foreign creditors!"
"If I didn't get that trust money, we would lose everything! The house, the reputation, our name!"
"She’s an outsider, Daniel! Her money belongs to the Sterling family!"
"She is my WIFE!" Daniel roared, the sound echoing through the massive estate.
He pulled out his phone and dialed three digits immediately.
"Emergency services. I need an ambulance and the police at 1400 Sterling Manor Drive."
"My mother has poisoned my wife and physically assaulted my staff."
"Come immediately."
Margaret gasped in disbelief.
"You're calling the police on your own mother?! For her?!"
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"You are not my mother," Daniel said, looking at her with cold disgust.
"You are a monster."
