CHAPTER 1 — THE SCREAM THAT SILENCED THE BALLROOM
The ballroom glittered beneath hundreds of crystal lights.
It was the most prestigious charity gala of the year, attended by politicians, celebrities, business owners, and some of the wealthiest families in the city.
At the center of the room stood Victoria Sterling.
She looked flawless in a silver gown covered with delicate crystals. Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders, and diamonds glittered around her neck.
Everyone knew Victoria.
She was powerful, wealthy, and respected.
But tonight, something had gone terribly wrong.
Across from her stood Emily Carter, a twenty-four-year-old woman wearing a simple blue dress.
Emily looked frightened.
“I told you I didn't take anything,” she whispered.
Victoria's eyes burned with anger.
“Don't lie to me!”
The music stopped.
Hundreds of guests turned toward them.
Emily swallowed.
“I swear, I don't know what you're talking about.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“The necklace disappeared from my private room, and you were the only person who entered.”
“I was delivering flowers.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
Emily's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes, because it's the truth.”
Victoria raised her voice.
“You poor little liar!”
A murmur moved through the crowd.
Emily looked around helplessly.
Nobody came to help.
Victoria pointed toward her.
“You people should know what kind of person she really is.”
Emily shook her head.
“Please don't do this.”
“Don't do what?” Victoria shouted. “Tell the truth?”
Emily's voice trembled.
“You know I didn't steal your necklace.”
For one second, Victoria became completely silent.
Then she laughed.
“You're accusing me of lying?”
“No.”
Emily lowered her eyes.
“I'm saying someone else took it.”
Victoria's expression hardened.
“Who?”
Emily looked toward the balcony.
“I don't know.”
Victoria stepped forward.
“Then you have no right to accuse anyone.”
Suddenly, a waiter rushed into the room.
“Mrs. Sterling!”
Everyone turned.
The waiter looked terrified.
“We found the necklace.”
Victoria froze.
“What?”
“It was inside the locked office.”
A shocked silence followed.
Victoria's face changed.
Emily looked at her.
“I told you.”
Victoria immediately turned toward the waiter.
“Who found it?”
“The security manager.”
“Where exactly?”
“In the safe.”
Victoria's eyes widened.
She knew the safe had been locked all evening.
Only three people knew the combination.
Victoria.
Her husband.
And her daughter, Olivia.
A terrible thought entered her mind.
But before she could say anything, the lights suddenly went out.
The ballroom fell into darkness.
People screamed.
Then came the sound of breaking glass.
When the emergency lights turned on, everyone stared toward the stage.
A large screen had suddenly switched on.
A video was playing.
It showed Victoria meeting secretly with a mysterious man three months earlier.
The room erupted in whispers.
Victoria stared at the screen in horror.
Emily covered her mouth.
The video continued.
Victoria was heard saying:
“Once the documents are signed, everything will belong to me.”
The crowd gasped.
Victoria's face went pale.
“That video is fake!”
But nobody answered.
Because the screen suddenly displayed another sentence:
“THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.”
Victoria looked around the ballroom.
Someone had planned this.
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Someone knew her secrets.
And whoever it was had just declared war.
