Chapter 3 - The Confession in the Shadows
"And what if I did?" Patricia laughed, her voice dropping its high-pitched quiver to reveal a harsh, grating tone. "Do you really think anyone will believe you, Julian? The grieving billionaire, overworked, losing his mind? Who installed me as the mistress of this house? You did."
My blood turned to ice. "You murdered her."
"Murder is such an ugly word," Patricia scoffched, leaning casually against the marble island, completely unbothered by the fact that I was holding my terrified children. "Let's call it a correction of a mistake. Sarah was weak. She was standing in my way of securing this life, this estate, and—yes—securing you, though you turned out to be a massive disappointment."
"She was your best friend," I breathed, horror gripping my throat.
"My best friend?" Patricia cackled, stepping closer. "She was a stepping stone. She had everything I wanted: the wealth, the status, the adoring husband. But she didn't appreciate you, Julian. She complained constantly. So, I helped her along. Just a few drops of a tasteless, fast-acting anticoagulant in her evening tea. By the time the paramedics arrived, her blood pressure had plummeted, mimicking a catastrophic stroke. The coroner signed off without a second glance. Perfect, clean, untraceable."
She didn't know that hidden inside the collar of my jacket, a micro-microphone was live, transmitting every single word directly to my private security chief stationed just outside the gates.
"You think you've won," I said, forcing my voice to remain steady for the sake of the children.
"I have won," Patricia smiled triumphantly, reaching for her handbag on the counter. "And now, you and your brats are going to pack your bags and leave. Because if you don't, I'll file for divorce, claim abuse, and take every single penny you own."
Before she could pull out her phone, the heavy front doors of the mansion burst open. Heavy boots thudded against the hardwood foyer.
"Patricia Vance, you are under arrest for the premeditated murder of Sarah Thorne and child endangerment," Detective Marcus Vance announced, stepping into the kitchen flanked by four uniformed officers.
May you like
Patricia’s face lost all color. The smirk shattered instantly. As the cold steel of the handcuffs clicked around her wrists, she stared at me with pure venom. "You recorded that," she hissed.
"Every single word," I replied coldly, kissing the top of my daughter's head. "And your nightmare is just beginning."
