Chapter 2 - The Sputtering Flame
Vanessa turned her head abruptly toward the door, her hand freezing in mid-air. Panic flickered across her features before she squeezed the metal lighter shut, smothering the flame in an instant.
Teresa looked up toward David, her tear-filled, desperate eyes pleading for help without saying a word.
Vanessa quickly slid the lighter behind her back, forcing a flustered, artificial smile as she took a step toward her groom.
"David! You… you weren't supposed to be home today," Vanessa stammered, her voice high and unnaturally tight.
David ignored her completely. He stepped forward between them, his posture stiffening as his eyes locked onto Teresa’s trembling lips and bruised wrists bound tightly against the cold marble column.
"Mr. David… I didn’t take anything, I swear," Teresa whispered through shaky, gasping breaths.
Vanessa snapped, pointing a defensive, manicured finger at the bound woman. Her posture turned tense and aggressive. "She’s a thief, David! I caught her red-handed in your study! Are you seriously taking her word over mine?!"
David didn't yell. His expression hardened into a cold, unyielding mask. He slowly reached into his tuxedo jacket pocket and pulled out his smartphone.
"She’s a thief!" Vanessa repeated, her voice growing sharper, more agitated.
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"I’m looking at the cloud camera backup, Vanessa," David said, his voice dropping into a razor-sharp, icy register.
👉 What did David see on his phone screen that caused Vanessa’s face to drain of every drop of color?
