Chapter 1 - The Sound of Breaking Glass
The sound of the glass table shattering was the first thing Marcus heard.
Not a scream.
Not a cry for help.
Just the violent explosion of crystal against marble.
CRASH.
When Marcus pushed open the mansion doors, the scene in front of him looked like a nightmare.
Elena was lying on the floor of the grand living room, surrounded by hundreds of pieces of broken glass. Her white dress was torn at the shoulder. A thin line of blood ran down her arm.
Her breathing was shaking.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
And standing only a few feet away was Adrian, completely frozen.
“Marcus…” Elena whispered.
Her voice broke.
“Thank God you’re here.”
Marcus stopped.
His eyes moved from the broken table… to Elena… then to Adrian.
“What happened?”
Nobody answered.
The silence was heavy.
Then Elena slowly lifted her trembling hand and pointed at Adrian.
“He pushed me.”
The words hit the room like another explosion.
Adrian’s face turned pale.
“What?”
Elena covered her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I tried to stop him. I told him we needed to talk. I told him destroying everything wouldn’t solve anything.”
“That’s a lie,” Adrian said immediately.
Marcus looked at him.
“Adrian.”
“No, Marcus. You have to listen to me.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“She’s not telling you the truth.”
Elena let out a small sob.
“Of course he would say that.”
Marcus looked between them.
For years, he had known Elena.
She was elegant.
Calm.
Always in control.
But tonight she looked terrified.
Broken.
Like someone who had just survived something horrible.
“Tell me exactly what happened,” Marcus said.
Elena slowly sat up.
“I came downstairs because I heard him yelling.”
She pointed toward Adrian.
“He was holding the documents from your office.”
Marcus’s expression changed.
“What documents?”
Adrian immediately shook his head.
“That’s not what happened.”
Elena continued.
“He accused me of stealing them.”
Marcus stared at Adrian.
“Did you?”
Adrian looked stunned.
“You’re asking me that?”
“Answer the question.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“No.”
Elena lowered her eyes.
“That’s when he lost control.”
A tear fell from her face.
“He grabbed my arm…”
She looked at the broken glass around her.
“And then he pushed me.”
The room became silent again.
Marcus walked closer.
His eyes studied every detail.
The broken table.
The position of Elena’s body.
The scattered glass.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
But before he could say anything, Elena grabbed his hand.
“Marcus, please.”
Her voice trembled.
“Don’t let him get away with this.”
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“You’re really going to believe her?”
Marcus didn’t answer.
Because deep inside…
He had one question.
Why was Elena crying?
And why did Adrian look more afraid than guilty?
Then Marcus noticed something.
A tiny red light blinking near the ceiling.
A security camera.
He slowly looked up.
And Elena’s face changed.
Only for one second.
But Marcus saw it.
The fear.
May you like
Not from Adrian.
From the camera.
