Chapter 6 - The Syringe in the Shadows
The night of the pre-wedding gala arrived, transforming the Caldwell estate into a glittering, high-society spectacle.
Hundreds of guests filled the grand ballroom, drinking expensive champagne and admiring the massive crystal chandeliers. Ethan, wearing his tailored dark navy suit, was constantly surrounded by corporate executives and wealthy politicians, completely distracted by the demands of his billionaire status.
Grace, dressed in her crisp black-and-white maid uniform, circulated through the crowd holding a silver tray of hors d'oeuvres. But she wasn't serving the guests; her sharp, highly trained eyes were locked onto a single target. She tracked Sabrina’s every movement with the terrifying focus of a sniper.
Sabrina, wearing her breathtaking off-shoulder silk ivory gown, smiled falsely for the photographers, but Grace could see the manic, desperate tension vibrating in her jaw. Sabrina kept her right hand hovering suspiciously near a hidden pocket sewn into the folds of her expensive gown.
Grace scanned the room and located Lily. The nine-year-old girl in the lavender dress was standing quietly near the base of the grand marble staircase, trying to stay away from the loud music and the overwhelming crowd.
At 9:00 PM, Ethan was pulled into a deep conversation with a foreign investor on the opposite side of the ballroom. Seeing her window of opportunity, Sabrina smoothly detached herself from a group of socialites and began walking briskly toward the staircase, her eyes locked directly onto Lily.
Grace instantly dropped her silver tray onto a nearby table. She didn't walk; she moved through the dense crowd with fluid, athletic speed, bypassing billionaires and waiters alike, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Sabrina reached the staircase, blocking Lily’s escape path. With her back to the crowd, Sabrina reached into the hidden pocket of her silk gown and pulled out a medical syringe filled with the heavy, clear sedative. She intended to inject it directly into the small juice box Lily was holding.
"Drink this right now, Lily," Sabrina hissed maliciously, stepping toward the terrified child.
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Grace saw the syringe flash under the light of the chandeliers. She had less than three seconds to react.
👉 Read Part 7 to return to the devastating mid-air kick.
