Chapter 1 – THE SIGNATURE ON THE FINAL PAGE

Vincent stared at the woman in the red silk gown.

“You promised him my money, Serena?”

The dining room was so quiet I could hear the hum of the chandeliers.

Serena backed away from the table, her hands trembling.

“Vincent, she’s lying. Diane is a bitter, jealous woman who wants to ruin my life because she couldn’t keep her husband.”

Diane didn’t yell.

She didn’t cry.

She simply reached into her handbag and pulled out a second folded document.

“I didn’t forge this, Serena.”

She placed it on the polished wood.

“Robert left this in his home office when he moved out. I found it yesterday.”

Vincent walked slowly toward the table.

He picked up the paper.

I watched his dark eyes scan the text.

His expression didn’t change, but the muscles in his jaw tightened until I thought they might snap.

“Caroline,” he said, his voice dangerously low.

I stepped forward. “Yes, sir?”

“Take the guests to the terrace. Have the staff serve dessert outside.”

The twenty-six wealthy guests didn’t need to be told twice.

Chairs scraped.

Within two minutes, the dining room was completely empty, leaving only Vincent, Serena, Diane, and me standing by the serving cart.

Serena reached for Vincent’s arm.

“Darling, please. It’s a misunderstanding. I was going to ask for a loan—”

“Don’t touch me.”

Vincent stepped back.

He held up the document Diane had provided.

“This isn’t a loan agreement, Serena. This is a wire transfer authorization for my personal trust.”

Serena swallowed hard.

“Vincent—”

“It authorizes five million dollars to be moved to Robert’s offshore account on Saturday morning.”

He looked directly at her.

“But that isn’t the part that bothers me.”

Serena went pale.

“It’s the signature at the bottom,” Vincent said quietly.

Diane looked down at her hands.

Vincent turned the paper around so Serena could see it.

“Because this isn’t my signature.”

Serena closed her eyes.

“It’s Elena’s,” Vincent whispered.

My heart stopped.

Elena was Vincent’s first wife.

She had died of a sudden illness four years ago.

“How did you get my dead wife’s signature on a document dated yesterday, Serena?”

Serena shook her head, tears spilling down her perfect makeup.

“I didn’t… Robert did it. He had old files.”

“Robert is a real estate developer,” Vincent said coldly. “He doesn’t have access to Elena’s private banking records.”

He took a step closer to his fiancée.

“But you do.”

Serena gasped, stepping back until she hit the edge of the table.

“Because before she died,” Vincent continued, his voice dropping to a terrifying whisper, “you were her personal assistant.”

Diane looked up, her eyes wide with shock.

“Serena… what did you do?” Diane asked.

Before Serena could answer, a small voice echoed from the hallway.

“Daddy?”

We all turned.

Standing in the doorway was Lily.

Vincent’s seven-year-old daughter.

She was wearing a pink nightgown, clutching a small stuffed bear.

Vincent immediately softened. He dropped the paper and walked toward her.

“Sweetheart, you’re supposed to be in bed.”

Lily rubbed her eyes.

“I heard yelling.”

She looked past her father, her tired eyes landing on Serena.

Then, Lily pointed her small finger at Serena’s wrist.

“Why is she wearing Mommy’s silver watch?”

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