Chapter 1 - The Silver ShearThe high-definition security footage played on the glowing forensic monitor, capturing every horrifying second from the library vent: Victoria advancing with the silver-bladed shears, Clara cornered against the mahogany bookshelf, and the cold malice in Victoria's eyes.
"Is the audio clear?" Clara asked, her voice raspy from smoke and trauma. She sat wrapped in a heavy wool blanket, clutching a mug of chamomile tea. The physical scars on her throat were healing, but the betrayal weighed heavily on her chest.
Julian kept his eyes glued to the screen, his jaw clenched tight. "Crystal clear," he said, his voice terrifyingly calm. "Every threat. This wasn't just a family dispute; it was attempted murder disguised as an estate battle."
Three days had passed since the incident at the Manor. Victoria had already hired high-priced defense attorneys, painting Clara to the tabloids as an unstable interloper.
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"She thinks her money makes her untouchable," Clara murmured, setting her mug down sharply. She walked over to the corkboard covered in financial records. "And she forged the codicil that stripped me of my inheritance."
Julian turned around, his eyes dark with a vow of vengeance. "Then we don't just take her to court, Clara. We tear her empire down from the inside out. Tonight."
