The Midnight Inheritance: How My Business Partner Framed Me at the Vanderbilt Gala
👉 Previous Decision: You chose to lock all doors immediately and demand a public search of everyone present.
Julian, his mind racing, chose confrontation. He ignored Marcus’s glares and Arthur’s still form. “Nobody leaves!” he roared, his voice echoing in the shocked silence. “Everyone here, stay seated. We’re doing a full search. Now.”
A few guests gasped. Clara, pale and trembling, looked at him with wide eyes. Marcus, however, seemed to relish the challenge. He stepped forward, a confident smirk spreading across his face.
“A search, Julian? Of course,” Marcus said, his voice calm, almost theatrical. He unbuttoned his suit jacket. “I’ll go first.”
He spread his arms wide, turning slowly for everyone to see. His pockets were clearly empty. “Nothing to hide,” he declared, his gaze locking with Julian’s.
As Marcus turned, he subtly flicked his wrist, a tiny movement that Julian almost missed. Across the opulent room, a heavy curtain shifted. Two burly mansion security guards, previously hidden, emerged.
They moved with surprising speed, converging on Julian. Before he could react, strong hands gripped his arms.
“What is this?” Julian demanded, struggling against their hold.
One of the guards reached into Julian’s overcoat pocket. His fingers closed around something cold and heavy. He pulled it out.
A leather casing, intricately tooled, glinted in the dim light. It was an exact duplicate of the one Marcus had slipped into his own pocket moments after Arthur fell.
Gasps rippled through the twelve horrified guests. Clara pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes welling with tears.
Marcus stepped closer, his face a mask of false sympathy. “Julian, how could you?” he whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. “The evidence… in your own coat.”
The guards tightened their grip, pulling Julian towards the mansion’s study. He saw the cold triumph in Marcus’s eyes. The trap was sprung.
Choose your next action
Try to argue your innocence with the security chief. — Read Chapter 4 to continue
Break through the side window to escape into the rain. — Read Chapter 5 to continue
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