When My Close Friend Poisoned My Step-Son’s Corgi to Destroy My $5 Million Engagement, My Hidden Avian Camera Tech Revealed the Truth—Leading Me to a Heartbreaking Romantic Discovery
The suffocating atmosphere of the villa pushed me towards the one person who seemed immune to Gemma’s manipulations: Great-Aunt Evelyn Lombard. She lived in a smaller, charming cottage nestled on the far side of the estate, her mind as sharp as her wit.
I found her in her sun-drenched conservatory, tending to orchids. The scent of damp earth and exotic blooms filled the air. She wore a simple linen dress, her silver hair pulled back in a neat bun.
“Elena, my dear,” she said, looking up from a delicate purple orchid. “Come in. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I sat opposite her, the veterinary report still clutched in my hand. I recounted everything: Gemma’s accusations, the falsified timeline, Serena and Olivia’s sudden arrival and their subtle attacks.
Evelyn listened, her gaze steady, her expression unreadable. Barnaby, perched on my shoulder, shifted slightly.
When I finished, she slowly placed her watering can down. “Gemma Finch,” she mused, the name a bitter taste on her tongue. “Always scheming, that one.”
My head snapped up. “What do you mean?”
Evelyn leaned forward, her eyes darkening. “This isn’t the first time Gemma has tried to manipulate the family using a notary. Years ago, after old Mr. Henderson passed, she tried to contest his will, claiming he was senile. Soren Drake was her notary then too.”
A cold shiver ran down my spine. “Soren Drake?”
“Indeed,” Evelyn confirmed, a dry smile touching her lips. “She needed money, always has. And Mr. Henderson’s trust fund was quite substantial. She failed, of course, thanks to an alert lawyer. But her methods… they’re remarkably consistent.”
She paused, then added, “Gemma has always had a knack for finding vulnerable men with deep pockets. And Soren Drake, bless his corrupt heart, is always willing to facilitate.”
My mind raced. Gemma wasn’t just jealous; she was desperate. Debt. This wasn’t just about destroying my engagement; it was about securing Mark’s fortune, perhaps even for herself. Evelyn’s words clicked into place, giving me a terrifyingly clear picture of Gemma’s deep-seated motive.
“She’s in debt,” I whispered, the realization hitting me with the force of a physical blow. “And Soren Drake is her accomplice, just like before.”
Evelyn nodded, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Old habits, my dear, die hard. Especially when money is involved.”
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