Chapter 3 - The Frame Job
Vincent pulled out his smartphone, tapping the security app. Within seconds, a crystal-clear video played on the screen.
The footage, timestamped at 10:32 AM, showed Emily tying the red tag with bunny-ear loops and setting the bottle on the warming station before Mrs. Hargrove ushered her away. Seconds after the kitchen cleared, Cassandra Vale walked into the frame.
She pulled a small glass vial from her designer handbag, untied Emily’s knot, poured a clear liquid over the red tag, and re-tied it into a tight, single knot. Then, she walked over to Nora, handed her a folded envelope of cash, and whispered something into her ear before leaving the room.
The sitting room fell into a suffocating silence.
Nora fell to her knees on the rug, sobbing hysterically. "Mr. Moretti! Please! I didn't know it was poison! Miss Vale paid me ten thousand dollars to fake the feeding log and blame the late feeding on the maid! She said she just wanted Emily fired so her daughter wouldn't be around the house!"
Vincent walked over to Cassandra, his presence suffocating.
"Why?" Vincent asked softly. "My late wife’s sister... my son’s aunt. Why would you poison an infant?"
Cassandra spat on the floor, dropping her polite facade as her eyes flared with long-suppressed jealousy. "Because as long as that child is alive, you will never marry me, Vincent! My sister died giving birth to him, and you treat that useless baby like a holy relic! You were supposed to marry me to keep the Vale-Moretti corporate alliance intact!"
She pointed a gloved finger at Emily and Lily. "And then you bring these low-class parasites into the house! You look at that maid with more warmth than you ever looked at me! If the baby fell ill under Emily’s watch, Emily would go to prison, Nora would be discredited, and you would have no choice but to rely on me!"
Vincent stared at her for a long, silent moment.
"Dominic," Vincent said, his voice dropping into an icy abyss. "Call the District Attorney. Tell him to prepare warrants for attempted murder, conspiracy, and child endangerment."
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"Vincent, no! You can't ruin my family's name!" Cassandra shrieked as two security officers seized her arms, dragging her toward the heavy double doors.
"Your family's name is already dead," Vincent said without turning around. "Get her out of my sight."
