Guests ducked behind tables as security guards reached for their weapons.
The woman at the entrance pointed the gun with shaking hands.
“That child does NOT belong to the Carter family!”
Matthew stepped protectively in front of Ava.
“Who are you?” he demanded coldly.
The woman laughed bitterly.
“You really don’t recognize me?”
She stepped closer into the chandelier light.
And Matthew’s face darkened instantly.
“Vanessa…”
Talia looked between them in confusion.
Vanessa Blake.
Andrew’s ex-fiancée.
The woman who disappeared the same night Andrew vanished.
Vanessa’s eyes filled with rage.
“You think Andrew abandoned everyone?” she shouted. “You think he stole from you?”
Matthew’s jaw tightened.
“He DID steal from me.”
“No,” Vanessa snapped. “He stole evidence.”
The mansion fell silent.
Matthew frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Vanessa slowly lowered the gun.
“Andrew found out who really destroyed your father.”
Matthew’s expression changed instantly.
Their father’s death had ruled headlines for years.
Officially:
suicide.
But Andrew never believed it.
Vanessa’s voice trembled.
“The night Andrew disappeared… he called me crying. He said someone inside the Carter empire murdered your father.”
Matthew’s face lost color.
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?” Vanessa whispered.
She reached into her coat and pulled out a small flash drive.
“Andrew gave me this before he vanished.”
Talia stared at her nervously.
“What’s on it?”
Vanessa looked directly at Matthew.
“The names of everyone involved.”
Matthew slowly handed Ava back to Talia.
His hands were shaking now.
“Who killed my father?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled with fear.
Before she could answer—
BANG.
A gunshot exploded through the mansion.
Vanessa collapsed instantly.
Guests screamed.
Talia grabbed Ava and dropped to the floor.
Matthew spun around furiously—
And saw Mrs. Collins standing at the top of the staircase…
Holding the smoking gun.
Mrs. Collins smiled coldly.
“You should’ve let the past stay buried.”
