Chapter 4 - The Poisoned Scheme
By midnight, the news of Victoria Vance's dramatic arrest and immediate disinheritance had sent shockwaves through high society.
Inside the private ward of the city jail, Victoria sat on a metal bench, her hands trembling with rage. Across from her behind the glass window stood her fiancé, Gavin Cross—a ruthless corporate attorney known for destroying opponents through backroom legal warfare.
"You were a fool, Victoria," Gavin hissed through the intercom, his dark eyes burning with frustration. "You let him trap you on video!"
"I don't care about the video!" Victoria spat, slamming her fist against the glass. "I want my money back, Gavin! $150 million! That money was supposed to fund our merger next month! You have to find a way to break that trust clause!"
Gavin leaned closer to the glass, his smile twisting into something sinister. "A trust clause relies on the victim being deemed 'capable and lawful.' What if we prove Clara manipulated your grandfather into writing that clause? What if we prove Clara isn't mentally stable?"
Victoria’s eyes lit up with malicious realization. "A psychiatric emergency... If we make it look like Clara had a hysterical episode and attacked me first, we can claim the video was edited!"
"Exactly," Gavin whispered. "I have contacts at the district medical board. We launch a media blitz by morning, claim Lucas is abusing his corporate authority to cover for his mentally unstable wife, and file an emergency injunction to freeze the trust transfer."
Meanwhile, back at the estate, Clara lay in the master bed, resting her head against Lucas’s chest. The night was quiet, but the emotional scars of the day remained heavy.
"Lucas?" Clara asked softly, tracing the linen pattern of his shirt.
"I’m right here, sweetheart," Lucas murmured, stroking her soft brown hair.
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"Are you sure about this?" she asked, looking up into his dark, fierce eyes. "Your family will hate us. They will fight us with everything they have."
Lucas leaned down, pressing his lips gently against her forehead. "Let them fight. They built their power on arrogance, Clara. But I built mine to protect you. Sleep now. Tomorrow, we finish this."
