Chapter 8 - The Evidence Arrived in Two PiecesOver the next four days, Maya refused to leave me alone with Eleanor.
She slept in the guest room and kept my medication in a locked case.
My strength slowly returned.
My thoughts became clearer.
Eleanor noticed.
“You seem better,” she said one morning.
She did not sound pleased.
On Thursday afternoon, my cardiologist called Maya with the toxicology results.
A sedative not listed in my prescriptions had been found in my blood. The concentration suggested repeated exposure rather than a single mistake.
Maya contacted the police.
At nearly the same time, Olivia received the preserved security footage from Ashbourne Estate.
The recording contained Eleanor’s confession, the medicine bottle, and Preston’s knowledge of the plan.
Olivia sent copies to the police, Maya, and Daniel.
Daniel examined the property records.
A deed transferring my mansion into a private holding company had been submitted electronically that morning.
The holding company was controlled by Preston.
The deed contained my signature from the rehearsal dinner.
A notary seal appeared beneath it.
The notary named on the document had been in Europe on the date it was supposedly signed.
Daniel immediately filed an emergency fraud notice, but he did not call me.
The police asked him to wait.
They wanted Eleanor and Preston to believe the transfer had succeeded.
That evening, Eleanor insisted on preparing dinner.
Maya objected.
Eleanor accused her of trying to control the family.
Preston arrived unexpectedly and joined the argument.
He looked terrible. Olivia had blocked his calls, creditors were contacting him, and rumors about the failed wedding had spread online.
“This is all because of you,” he told me.
“Because of me?”
“You refused to help when I needed you.”
“I paid half a million dollars for a wedding that did not happen.”
“I needed security, not flowers!”
“You asked for the flowers.”
Eleanor placed a bowl of soup in front of me.
“Both of you need to calm down.”
Maya reached for the bowl.
Eleanor slapped her hand away.
“This is my husband’s dinner.”
Maya looked at me.
For the first time in weeks, my mind was completely clear.
I pushed the bowl away.
“No.”
Eleanor’s smile disappeared.
“It is only soup.”
“Then you eat it.”
Preston stared at the table.
He knew.
The front door opened.
Police officers entered the house with Daniel and Olivia behind them.
Eleanor grabbed the soup bowl and attempted to pull it away. It struck the edge of the table and shattered, spilling across the marble.
An officer ordered everyone to remain still.
Olivia walked toward me and placed her phone in my hand.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
I pressed play.
May you like
The bridal lounge appeared on the screen.
And the last pieces of my family fell apart.
