Chapter 2 - The Recording They Thought Was Destroyed
The shattered crystal echoed across the silent hall.
Every guest stared at Celeste.
She had gone completely pale.
Nathan looked from the broken glass to his wife.
"What did you do?"
She didn't answer.
Instead, she calmly slipped the sapphire pendant back beneath her blouse.
The hidden speakers crackled once more.
Celeste's recorded voice continued.
"Nathan never knew that every offshore transfer required two signatures..."
The recording suddenly cut off.
Silence.
Only static remained.
Nathan exhaled sharply.
"That's it?"
His confidence returned almost instantly.
"A corrupted file."
He laughed.
"You almost impressed me."
His wife tilted her head.
"Did I?"
She tapped the pendant once.
Another click.
The mansion's giant television screens came to life.
Every screen.
Every hallway.
Every ballroom monitor.
Security footage appeared.
Date after date.
Bank vaults.
Private meetings.
Late-night transfers.
Nathan watched himself signing documents beside Celeste.
Guests turned toward one another in disbelief.
"I thought those recordings were erased."
"So did I."
Celeste stepped forward.
"Turn them off."
No one moved.
Nathan shouted at the security chief.
"Now!"
The man didn't answer.
Instead...
He slowly removed his earpiece.
Then his security badge.
He placed both on the marble floor.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Ashford."
"I resigned this morning."
Nathan froze.
"You what?"
"So did the rest of your security team."
Almost simultaneously...
Eight guards removed their badges.
One after another.
Metal struck marble like falling dominoes.
Celeste felt genuine fear for the first time in years.
Someone had been planning this for months.
Not hours.
Months.
She turned toward Nathan.
"Who knows?"
Nathan didn't answer.
Because he didn't know anymore.
His wife quietly smiled.
"You kept asking why I never fought back."
"I wasn't waiting for courage."
"I was waiting for everyone to take their places."
Outside...
Another impact shook the mansion.
This time...
The front doors cracked.
Nathan suddenly realized something terrifying.
May you like
Nobody inside looked surprised anymore.
Except him.
