, settling momentarily on each family member as if daring them to betray themselves. August sat stiffly in his chair, his hands clenched tightly in his lap. His eyes da

e firm. "Mrs. Westwood, I need to circle

c of her dress. "What is it now?" she asked, her tone cli

rce." Harris paused, his gaze narrowing. "What was the nature o

fly," she replied after a moment. "Jonathan... he wasn't happ

, his notebook in hand. "He reminded you that yo

," she snapped. "Yes, he mentioned the prenup. But I didn't care about

what?" Harr

arris didn't push further, but the silence t

ked toward Aurora, then away, as if her predicament somehow heightened his own discomfort. Ros

ned to Victor. "And you, Mr. Westwood. Let's ta

ightly, his jaw tighte

was... strained," Harris said,

ck in his chair, his arms crossed. "Jonathan never approved of anything I did.

rris pointed out. "Under his

he snapped. "He wanted to keep an eye on me.

down in his notebook. "So, if you were so unhappy

arkened. "That's none

Harris said coolly, "when

t Victor, noting the way his brother's hands fidg

. Westwood, where were you last nig

wed. "In my room, l

h his notes. "One of the maids reported hearing you arg

nched, but he re

ve had your last chance,'" Harris continued, his voice ca

e study down the hall. "It was just a disagr

ng a brow. "Then why were you seen lockin

king myself in! I just needed some sp

thinking about," Harris

against the floor. "This is ridiculous!" he sna

or only seemed to inflame Victor further, but after a moment,

tudy. Victor had locked hi

etreat to their respective rooms, August found Vanes

she said quietly, her voic

. "Victor was hiding something in t

nsure they were alone. "Do

a moment, then no

htly as it opened. The room was dimly lit, the fain

the desk. A ledger sat slightly askew

g filled the margins, but certain entries caught his attention-notes about failed

planning something,

anessa added, h

shing ash aside to reveal a partially burned piece of paper. She held it up to the ligh

ting Victor out," he said, the rea

n unreadable. "That's a stron

ust quickly returned the ledger to its original position, and

g in here?" she asked,

d quickly. "Just... l

he said nothing more, retre

together once more. His expression was grim

r. Victor Westwood has not been entirely truthful about

ed. "What are you

burned document we recovered-it appears to be a draft of

Victor a look of shock and suspicio

s composure crumblin

interrupted. "You argued with your father,

uth to respond, but

hat were you so desperate

st's gaze flicked to Vanessa, who stood nearby,

You had motive. You had opportunity. So t

ent words. Aurora's wide eyes locked onto her son, her once-perfect composure unraveling before everyone's gaze. The other family members watched, their expression

ssecting him piece by piece. "You had motive. You had opportunity," he repea

rching for a way out, a lifeline. But there was none. Everyone in the r

collar, loosening the button as if the air had grown too thick to breathe. "I didn't kill him," h

"Then why the lies, Victor? Why lock your

I was just upset. You have to understand-my father, he was-" He broke off, the words trailing into the heavy silence. There was a flicker in his eyes, a fleetin

arge. To see him crumble under the weight of his father's death was jarring, and for a moment, August almost felt a pang of sympathy. Almost. But then, his gaze shifted to Vane

ion, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than she was letting on. She had been in the study with him earlier that night. She had s

ling with a mixture of disbelief and growing panic. "Victor, please tell me this isn't true," she whispered, her eyes wide as she reached to

mming slightly. He opened his mouth to speak, but before

his voice steely, unyielding. "But this won't be the end

hed tightly in her lap, flinched under his scrutiny, while Rose, still sitting on the couch, stared at her brother as though seeing him for the firs

ctly at him. There was something in her gaze, something that made his chest tighten. He felt the weight of he

breaking the silence. "But don't think for a second

umped back into his chair. The detective gave one last, lingering look at the fa

ing as she wiped at her eyes. "I need some air," she muttered, before turning a

and confusion. She didn't look at anyone as she

ut the growing certainty that something far more dangerous was at play here-something that went beyond Victor's anger at their father, beyond the arguments and the

a step closer to August. "Do you believe him?" she asked, her voice soft

n't know," he said finally, his voice uncertain. "I want to believe h

a faint, enigmatic smile. "And what about you

rd, his eyes narrowing as he lo

"You've been looking at me like I know someth

ad been looking at her differently-hadn't he? There was something about Vane

teps echoing in the empty room. "I think we all have our sec

that, she

He was alone now, but his mind was anything but still. Vanessa's cryptic remark had stirred som

answer, but he in

d open, and he turned, his h

standing in the doorwa

said quietly, his eyes dark. "You don'

h that,

ws in the study seemed to stretch longer, as if the walls were closing in on him,