Chapter 9 - The Audio Truth
A flicker of unease crossed Victoria's face. "Julian... what are you talking about? This isn't the time for speeches about your father."
"Nonsense, Victoria," Julian replied, his eyes piercing straight through her. "You always said we should honor the past."
Without waiting for another word, Julian stepped over to the sound technician's booth beside the stage. Before the security guards could react, Julian plugged a small digital transfer cable from his phone—where he had backed up the cassette tape five minutes ago—directly into the main audio board.
He pressed play.
A heavy, static-filled silence hummed through the massive speakers hanging from the ballroom ceiling.
"You're being foolish, Evelyn," Victoria's recorded voice boomed across the grand hall, amplified to absolute clarity.
The champagne flutes froze in the guests' hands. The string quartet stopped playing.
Victoria’s face transformed from polished arrogance to ghastly white in less than two seconds. "Turn that off!" she screamed, lunging toward the technician booth. "Turn it off right now!"
Two heavy estate guards stepped in front of Victoria, blocking her path. They weren't Victoria's men—they were loyal former security officers hired personally by Julian's late father.
"Nobody looks for a runaway wife, my dear," Victoria's voice echoed loudly through the ballroom. "The police already have the fake train tickets I bought under your name."
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The crowd erupted into an uproar of collective shock and horror.
👉 How will Victoria try to squirm out of the damning recording in front of the Senator and the press?
