Chapter 3: The Footage
Chapter 3: The Footage
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The memory card sat in the center of Gabriel's desk like a ticking bomb.
"Play it."
Gabriel's voice was cold.
Mr. Henry nodded and inserted the card into his laptop.
The screen flickered.
The footage appeared.
A timestamp glowed in the corner.
11:14 a.m.
The hallway outside the nursery was empty.
Then Victoria appeared.
The room immediately grew tense.
She was carrying her medical bag.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing suspicious.
Victoria forced a smile.
"You see? I told you. Routine checkup."
The video continued.
Victoria entered the nursery.
The door closed behind her.
Everyone waited.
Minutes passed.
Then something unexpected happened.
The camera captured Victoria leaving the nursery.
But she wasn't walking toward the front staircase.
She was moving in the opposite direction.
Toward the staff quarters.
Toward Lucia's room.
The smile disappeared from Victoria's face.
"No..."
Mr. Henry leaned forward.
The footage showed Victoria stopping outside Lucia's door.
Looking around.
Checking if anyone was watching.
Then entering.
For exactly twenty-three seconds.
The room erupted.
"What the hell is this?" Gabriel roared.
Victoria immediately stood.
"I can explain!"
"Then explain why you were in Lucia's room!"
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because there was no explanation.
At least none that sounded innocent.
Lucia stared at the screen in disbelief.
Her knees nearly gave out.
She hadn't imagined it.
Someone really had framed her.
And that someone was standing only a few feet away.
Victoria suddenly realized she was losing control.
Fast.
Very fast.
Then she made a decision.
A desperate one.
Her hand shot into her pocket.
The scalpel flashed under the library lights.
Several people screamed.
Victoria grabbed Mr. Henry and pressed the blade against his throat.
"No one move!"
The room froze.
Gabriel's eyes darkened.
"Victoria..."
"Stay back!"
Her voice cracked.
Years of obsession, jealousy, and rage finally exploded.
"You don't understand!"
She laughed hysterically.
"Do you know how long I've waited for you?"
Gabriel stared at her.
"What are you talking about?"
"Six years!"
Tears streamed down her face.
"Six years of helping you!"
"Six years of standing beside you!"
"Six years watching every woman fail while I stayed loyal!"
The truth hit the room like lightning.
She wasn't in love.
She was obsessed.
Dangerously obsessed.
"And then she arrived!"
Victoria pointed at Lucia.
"A cleaning lady!"
"A nobody!"
"And suddenly you looked at her the way I wanted you to look at me!"
Lucia's heart pounded.
Gabriel's face hardened.
"This was never about the babies."
Victoria laughed.
"No."
Then her expression turned terrifying.
"It was always about you."
Silence.
Heavy.
Terrifying silence.
Then another voice broke through.
Lucia's.
"You poisoned Bella."
Victoria looked at her.
For the first time, there was no mask left.
No professional smile.
No fake compassion.
Only hatred.
"Yes."
The room gasped.
"Yes, I did."
May you like
The confession echoed through the mansion.
And it wasn't the last one.
