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THE SCENT OF A LIE 💇‍♀️🕵️‍♂️ / Chapter 2 / 10

Chapter 2 - The Perfume Trap“Mom wore her long white coat,” Lily whispered, her small voice shaking as she clutched the hospital blanket. “She smelled like jasmine. Just like you do when you hug me goodbye.”

Detective Ruiz looked up at me, her eyes narrowing as two police officers moved closer to the hospital door, blocking my exit.

“Detective, I haven't been to Mark’s house since the divorce was finalized fourteen months ago,” I pleaded, my heart hammering against my ribs. “I don't own a long white coat. And my jasmine perfume... it went missing from my vanity bag six months ago during the custody drop-off.”

Mark let out a loud, mocking scoff from the corner of the room. “Oh, brilliant, Claire. Lose your perfume and blame it on a ghost. The child just named you. She said you drugged her!”

“Mr. Vance,” Detective Ruiz interrupted, her voice dropping into an icy, unyielding register as she looked at Mark. “Why would your ex-wife need to dress up in a disguise to visit her own daughter at your residence?”

“Because she’s unstable!” Mark shouted, stepping forward with practiced anger. “She wants full custody, and she’s trying to manipulate the system!”

I knelt back down beside the gurney, ignoring Mark entirely. “Lily, sweetheart, look at my hands. Did 'Mom' have a ring on her finger?”

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Chapter 3 - The Forensic AnalysisWithin an hour, Detective Ruiz ordered an emergency forensic swab of the adhesive residue on Lily’s neck and requested the laboratory run an immediate panel for transdermal sedatives.
Chapter 4 - The Shadow in the MirrorMark went deathly pale, dropping his smartphone onto the linoleum floor with a sharp clatter.
Chapter 5 - The Surveillance SecretDetective Ruiz didn't waste another second. “Units are already en route to your lakehouse, Mr. Vance. And you are coming with us.”
Chapter 6 - The Raid on the LakehouseAt 7:00 a.m., state police tactical units executed a simultaneous search warrant at Mark’s luxury lakehouse property.
Chapter 7 - The Unmasking in CourtFour days later, the formal arraignment took place at the County Courthouse.
Chapter 8 - Cracks in the Arrogant Ex-HusbandOver the next six months while awaiting trial, Mark’s high-priced legal team attempted to shift the entire blame onto Vanessa, claiming he was an innocent victim of her manipulation.

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