CHAPTER 2: The Red Recording
CHAPTER 2: The Red Recording
The silence in the grand hallway was suffocating. Adrian took a step back, his eyes darting between his mother’s suddenly pale face and his wife’s fierce, tear-stained glare.
"Isabella," Adrian’s voice trembled, "What do you mean, security cameras? Mother said the system was undergoing maintenance tonight."
Eleanor quickly recovered her poise, though her fingers twitched against her designer dress. "Adrian, darling, don't listen to her. She’s hysterical. The boy broke the heirloom—the centuries-old Ruby Vase—and now she’s trying to deflect blame. It’s pathetic."
Isabella let out a cold, humorless laugh. She slowly stood up, lifting Noah into her arms. The little boy’s trembles were subsiding, anchored by his mother’s sudden, fierce strength. "Maintenance, Eleanor? Is that what you told Adrian?"
Isabella pulled her smartphone from her pocket. "You spent millions upgrading the mansion's security last month. But you forgot one thing: I was the one who signed the contract with the tech firm. And I insisted on a backup cloud server that routes directly to my personal device. A server you have no access to."
Eleanor’s eyes widened slightly—the first crack in her perfect armor.
With a swipe of her thumb, Isabella projected the video feed onto the massive smart screen dominating the hallway wall. The footage was crystal clear. It showed little Noah walking past the table, holding nothing but his handkerchief. Then, it showed Eleanor walking up behind him. With a deliberate, chillingly calm flick of her wrist, Eleanor had pushed the Ruby Vase off its pedestal, shattering it into pieces. The deep red liquid inside—an expensive, specialized oil meant for the antique lamp nearby—splattered everywhere.
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The video didn't lie. Eleanor had framed her own seven-year-old grandson.
Adrian stared at the screen, his breath escaping him in a sharp gasp. "Mother... how could you?"
