CHAPTER SIX: THE TRAITOR WITHIN
818 Words
The Kingsley Estate slept beneath a blanket of moonlight.
From the outside, it looked peaceful.
Inside…
Someone was preparing for murder.
Sophia stood on the balcony of her new bedroom, unable to sleep.
The ocean breeze brushed against her face as she stared at the endless sea.
Everything had changed within a single day.
Yesterday, she had been Ethan Sterling’s unwanted wife.
Today, she was the heiress to one of the wealthiest families in the world.
It still felt unreal.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Alfred entered carrying a silver tray.
“A cup of chamomile tea, Miss Sophia.”
“My mother always drank this whenever she couldn’t sleep.”
Sophia smiled faintly.
“Thank you, Alfred.”
He placed the tray on the table and bowed before quietly leaving.
As the door closed, Sophia picked up the delicate teacup.
Before taking a sip, she noticed something strange.
A tiny piece of folded paper had been tucked beneath the saucer.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She unfolded it carefully.
Only five words were written.
Don’t drink the tea.
Sophia froze.
She slowly lowered the cup.
Almost immediately, the bedroom lights flickered.
The door burst open.
Damien rushed inside with two bodyguards.
“Don’t touch it!”
Sophia instinctively stepped away from the tray.
Damien grabbed the teacup and handed it to one of his security officers.
“Take it to the laboratory.”
The officer nodded and disappeared.
Sophia stared at Damien.
“How did you know?”
“I received a warning.”
“From who?”
“I don’t know.”
Sophia folded her arms.
“Another secret?”
Damien didn’t answer.
Instead, he walked toward the window and checked the darkness outside.
His instincts told him something was terribly wrong.
Thirty minutes later…
The head of security returned.
His expression was grim.
“Sir.”
Damien looked at him.
“The tea contained aconitine.”
Sophia frowned.
“What is that?”
“A highly poisonous plant toxin,” Damien explained quietly.
“In a sufficient dose, it can stop the heart while making the death appear natural.”
Sophia’s face went pale.
“Someone tried to poison me?”
The security chief nodded.
“Yes.”
“And only someone inside this estate could have prepared and delivered that tea.”
Silence filled the room.
The traitor wasn’t outside.
The traitor was already living among them.
Damien pressed a button on his phone.
Within minutes, every servant, maid, chef, gardener, and security guard assembled in the grand hall.
Nearly sixty people stood in perfect rows.
Their faces showed confusion—and fear.
Damien walked slowly before them.
“Someone among you attempted to murder Miss Kingsley tonight.”
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Alfred stepped forward immediately.
“Impossible!”
“I have served this family for over thirty years.”
Damien’s expression remained unreadable.
“I know.”
“But loyalty cannot be assumed.”
He turned to his security chief.
“Search every room.”
“No one leaves this estate.”
“Yes, sir.”
The guards dispersed.
Sophia studied the faces in the hall.
Most looked frightened.
Some looked angry.
But one woman…
A young maid near the back…
Looked terrified.
Not frightened.
Terrified.
She kept glancing toward the exit.
Sophia quietly walked toward her.
“What is your name?”
The maid jumped.
“M-Maria, Miss.”
“Look at me.”
Maria slowly raised her eyes.
They were filled with tears.
“You know something.”
Maria shook her head violently.
“I don’t!”
Sophia gently held her trembling hands.
“If you’re innocent, help me.”
Maria’s lips quivered.
Then—
A deafening gunshot echoed through the hall.
BANG!
Maria’s eyes widened.
A crimson stain spread across her uniform.
She collapsed into Sophia’s arms.
People screamed.
Damien immediately drew a concealed pistol and shouted,
“Sniper!”
The estate lights went out.
Another shot rang through the darkness.
BANG!
Glass shattered above them.
Bodyguards surrounded Sophia, forming a human shield.
Outside…
A dark figure stood on a distant hill, looking through a sniper scope.
He watched the chaos with satisfaction.
“The witness is dead.”
He calmly packed his rifle.
Then he spoke into his communicator.
“Phase Two successful.”
A woman’s voice replied,
“No.”
“The real mission begins now.”
“What do you mean?”
“The poison failed.”
“So?”
There was a brief silence.
Then she laughed softly.
“Burn the Kingsley Estate.”
The sniper looked toward the magnificent mansion.
A cruel smile spread across his face.
He pressed a button hidden inside his watch.
Deep beneath the estate…
A timer suddenly activated.
09:59
09:58
09:57
Someone had planted explosives beneath the Kingsley Estate.
And no one inside knew they had less than ten minutes to escape.
- Writer
