Chapter 6:A Dept That Could Never Be Repaid
519 Words
Isabella's fingers had almost reached the champagne glass.
Suddenly...
A strong hand grabbed her wrist.
"Don't drink it."
She looked up in surprise.
It was Damien.
His face was unusually serious.
"What are you doing?" Isabella asked coldly.
Before Damien could answer, another waiter accidentally bumped into the tray.
The champagne glass slipped from Isabella's hand.
It crashed onto the marble floor.
The clear liquid splashed everywhere.
Within seconds...
The flowers beside the broken glass began to turn black.
The guests gasped.
"What happened?"
Edward's face darkened.
"Nobody move!"
His chief of security rushed forward.
A small testing device was taken from his pocket.
He examined the spilled liquid.
A few seconds later...
The screen flashed bright red.
POISON DETECTED.
The ballroom erupted into panic.
Edward's voice thundered across the hall.
"Seal every exit!"
"No one leaves this building!"
Bodyguards surrounded the room.
Guests looked at one another in fear.
The waiter who had served the drink tried to slip away unnoticed.
"Stop him!" shouted the security chief.
The waiter broke into a run.
He pushed through the frightened crowd.
Two bodyguards chased after him.
The chase continued through the hotel kitchen.
Just as they were about to catch him...
The waiter smashed a window and jumped out.
By the time the guards reached the street...
He had disappeared.
Back inside...
Edward turned to Isabella.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"No."
Then she looked at Damien.
"You saved me."
Damien lowered his eyes.
"I couldn't let anything happen to you."
There was silence between them.
For the first time since the wedding...
Isabella saw genuine regret in his eyes.
Edward stepped forward.
"You have my gratitude, Mr. Knight."
"But don't mistake this for forgiveness."
Damien nodded.
"I understand."
"I don't expect forgiveness."
"I only want the chance to make things right."
Isabella remained silent.
Some wounds were too deep to heal with a few words.
Meanwhile...
In a dark warehouse on the outskirts of the city...
The failed assassin knelt before a man whose face remained hidden in the shadows.
"I failed."
The mysterious man slowly stood.
"You had one job."
"I'm sorry."
Without warning...
The man slapped him so hard he fell to the ground.
"You've become careless."
The assassin lowered his head.
"What should we do now?"
The mysterious man stared at a photograph of Isabella.
Around her neck...
The Lancaster family necklace sparkled.
His eyes narrowed.
"So..."
"Edward finally gave her Amelia's necklace."
He smiled coldly.
"That necklace doesn't just belong to the Lancaster family."
"It hides a secret."
"A secret worth billions."
He picked up a lighter...
And burned Isabella's photograph.
"Prepare the next phase."
"This time..."
"We won't attack Isabella."
"We'll destroy everyone she loves."
Back at the Lancaster Mansion...
Edward led Isabella into his private study.
He opened an old wooden safe hidden behind a painting.
Inside were dozens of dusty files.
He handed one to her.
"I've kept this for many years."
Isabella opened it.
The first page read:
CONFIDENTIAL
The Death of Amelia Lancaster Was Not an Accident.
Her eyes widened.
"What...?"
Edward's voice trembled.
"Your mother..."
"...was murdered."
- Writer
