Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN BENEATH HER HEEL

Damien Cross came through the open glass doors expecting to find his wife waiting beside the pool.

Instead, he found Nora Hale pinned to the living room floor.

Celeste’s red designer heel pressed against Nora’s right hand.

Nora’s cheek was swollen.

Tears streaked through the dust on her face.

A silver cash box lay open near the fireplace.

Bundles of money were scattered across the glossy white tiles.

Beside them rested Celeste’s diamond brooch.

For one second, no one moved.

Celeste looked toward Damien.

The cruel smile vanished from her face.

“Thank God.”

She stepped away from Nora and pointed toward the money.

“I caught her stealing.”

Nora struggled to lift her head.

“She put it there.”

Celeste’s voice rose immediately.

“She attacked me when I confronted her.”

“She has been robbing us for months.”

Damien looked at Nora’s torn sleeve.

Then at the red marks around her wrist.

Nora worked as a housekeeper at Crosshaven Manor.

She had been employed there for almost seven years.

She was quiet, punctual, and so careful with other people’s property that she once waited three hours to return a watch a guest had left in a bathroom.

Damien had never heard her raise her voice.

Celeste rushed toward him.

“She tried to hit me with the cash box.”

Damien’s eyes moved to the wall camera above the fireplace.

A tiny red light blinked beneath the lens.

Celeste followed his gaze.

“The camera is broken.”

Nora whispered:

“No, it isn’t.”

Celeste spun around.

“You little liar.”

She lifted her hand toward Nora again.

Damien caught her arm.

“Stop.”

Celeste stared at him.

“Let go of me.”

“What did you do?”

“I protected our home.”

“You were standing on her hand.”

“She is a thief.”

Nora tried to sit up.

Her body trembled violently.

Damien released Celeste’s arm and stepped between them.

“Get away from her.”

Celeste’s expression became cold.

“This is my house.”

“It is also the place where I just watched you assault an employee.”

“You are choosing a maid over your wife?”

“I am choosing what I saw.”

Celeste slapped his chest.

“You have no idea what she has done.”

Damien caught her shoulders and turned her away from Nora.

Celeste fought him.

Her heel slid across the polished floor.

She reached for Nora again.

Damien pushed her toward the terrace.

Celeste stumbled through the open doors.

Her body struck a lounge chair.

Then she fell sideways into the swimming pool.

Water exploded beneath the afternoon sun.

The guests near the outdoor bar screamed.

Celeste surfaced, coughing.

Her dark hair clung to her face.

Her expensive dress floated around her like torn red silk.

“You threw me into the pool.”

Damien stood in the doorway.

“You were hurting her.”

Celeste grabbed the edge.

“My father will destroy you.”

“Call him.”

Damien turned away from her.

He dropped to his knees several feet from Nora.

“I am not going to touch you without permission.”

Nora looked at him through frightened eyes.

“My phone.”

“Where is it?”

“Celeste took it.”

Damien looked toward the terrace.

Celeste was climbing out of the water.

A black phone bulged inside the pocket of her wet dress.

Damien stood again.

“Give me Nora’s phone.”

Celeste laughed.

“You have lost your mind.”

Damien called estate security from his own phone.

“Lock every gate.”

Celeste stopped laughing.

Then he called the police.

Her face changed.

“Damien.”

“Whatever you think happened, we can deal with it privately.”

“No.”

“We can’t.”

The sirens reached Crosshaven Manor nine minutes later.

By then, Celeste was standing beneath a towel on the terrace.

Nora was wrapped in Damien’s jacket.

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The fake evidence remained scattered across the white floor.

And the camera above the fireplace continued recording everything.