CHAPTER 2 — The Conspiracy Beneath the Engagement Ring
The ballroom became so quiet that I could hear champagne bubbles rising inside crystal glasses.
Vanessa forced a laugh.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Her voice sounded confident.
Her hands did not.
For the first time all evening, they were shaking.
My uncle Martin immediately stepped forward.
"Alexander," he said warmly, placing a hand on my shoulder. "The medication must be affecting your judgment."
Medication.
Interesting choice of words.
Because the painkillers everyone believed I was taking...
Had never entered my body.
I smiled weakly.
"You seem awfully eager to explain my behavior."
Martin's smile stiffened.
Daniel finally spoke.
"Alex... maybe we should continue this conversation privately."
I looked at him.
My oldest friend.
The man who had stood beside me through school, university, business school, and every birthday for twenty years.
"Why privately?"
I asked.
"If there's nothing to hide..."
"No reason," Daniel replied too quickly.
"I just don't want you embarrassing yourself."
Embarrassing myself?
No.
Someone else was about to.
Marcus quietly approached and leaned beside my wheelchair.
He whispered only four words.
"We found the laptop."
My heartbeat accelerated.
Two weeks before the accident, confidential company files had disappeared.
Internal voting records.
Board member communications.
Stock transfer agreements.
Whoever stole them intended to seize control of Hayes Corporation the moment I became vulnerable.
Now Marcus had found the missing device.
Before I could respond...
Clara suddenly grabbed my arm.
Hard.
Hard enough to surprise me.
Her eyes were filled with panic.
"You cannot drink anything tonight," she whispered.
I stared at her.
"What?"
"They've been replacing your medication."
My blood ran cold.
"I don't take medication."
"I know," she whispered. "That's why they switched to your wine."
Everything around me seemed to slow.
Vanessa.
Martin.
Daniel.
The servants carrying silver trays.
One waiter approaching with a glass already prepared.
Marcus followed my gaze immediately.
His hand moved toward the concealed earpiece beneath his jacket.
But before he could react...
The waiter reached me.
"Champagne, sir."
I accepted the glass with trembling hands.
Every guest watched.
Vanessa smiled sweetly again.
"Please," she said loudly.
"Let's celebrate your recovery."
Recovery?
No.
They were expecting something else.
I slowly raised the glass toward my lips...
Then deliberately let it slip from my fingers.
CRASH!
Crystal shattered across the marble floor.
Golden champagne spread like liquid sunlight.
Within seconds...
The family dog—a massive German Shepherd named Titan—wandered over and licked the spilled drink.
Thirty seconds later...
Titan collapsed.
The ballroom erupted into screams.
Clara covered her mouth.
Marcus drew his weapon.
Vanessa stepped backward in horror.
And my uncle Martin...
Instead of looking at the dying dog...
Was staring directly at the broken glass.
As if he already knew exactly what had been inside it.
That's when I stood up.
Without my wheelchair.
Without hesitation.
Without saying a single word.
Hundreds of horrified eyes locked onto me.
May you like
The cripple...
Had just walked.
