Chapter 2: The Shattered Glass
The tiny screen played the final seconds of the hidden recording.
A hand entered the frame, passing a crystal champagne flute to Victoria.
The camera panned up slightly to reveal the face.
Julian stopped breathing.
The man on the screen was Marcus, his own older brother.
Marcus smiled warmly at Victoria as she stirred the fatal powder.
Julian looked at the glass currently resting in his own right hand.
It was the exact same crystal flute.
Marcus had handed it to him just five minutes ago with a brotherly pat on the back.
"Julian, you look pale."
Victoria stepped closer, her voice dripping with fake concern.
She reached out to touch his arm.
Julian violently recoiled from her grasp.
The crystal glass slipped from his fingers.
It shattered against the polished marble floor.
The loud crash silenced the nearby guests.
Heads turned in their direction.
"He knows."
Elena stated firmly, stepping between Julian and the wealthy woman.
Victoria’s face twisted from false concern into cold panic.
She lunged toward Julian's wrist to smash the watch.
Elena caught the older woman's wrist mid-air.
"Don't touch him."
Elena warned, pushing Victoria back with surprising strength.
"Guards!"
Victoria shrieked, dropping her elegant facade completely.
"Seize this crazy waitress immediately!"
Two broad-shouldered security guards started pushing through the crowd.
Julian finally snapped out of his paralyzing shock.
He grabbed Elena's hand tightly.
"We have to go."
Julian said, his voice urgent.
He pulled Elena toward the discreet staff exit behind the main staircase.
They sprinted down the narrow, dimly lit hallway.
The heavy ballroom doors swung shut behind them, muffling the chaos.
Julian leaned against the cold concrete wall, gasping for air.
He looked at the bruised, brave woman standing before him.
"Why did you save me?"
Julian asked softly.
Elena wiped a drop of blood from her eyebrow.
"Because nobody deserves to be betrayed by their own blood."
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She met his gaze with steady eyes.
"Now we need to find the evidence before they destroy it."
