Chapter 1 – The Secret Hidden Behind the Slap
The silence that followed Ethan's single word—"Wait."—felt heavier than the crystal chandeliers hanging above the ballroom.
Every guest remained frozen.
Champagne glasses hovered halfway to lips.
Even the string quartet had stopped playing.
The young maid, Emily Brooks, pressed a trembling hand against her reddened cheek where Sophia's slap had landed moments before. Tears blurred her vision, but she refused to lower her eyes.
She had not come to steal another woman's husband.
She had come to save his life.
Sophia Carter stood between them like a queen defending her throne.
"I told you to leave."
Her voice remained elegant, but rage vibrated beneath every word.
Emily swallowed hard.
"If I leave now..." she whispered, "...he dies tonight."
The words echoed across the enormous hall.
Daniel Carter's face changed instantly.
Until now he had believed his wife had simply misunderstood the situation.
Now something else was happening.
Something far more dangerous.
He stepped around Sophia.
"Tell me."
Sophia grabbed his arm.
"Daniel, she's lying. She's trying to cause a scene."
Emily reached inside the pocket of her apron.
Security immediately rushed forward.
Several guests gasped.
But instead of pulling out a weapon...
She unfolded a tiny memory card.
"I found this while cleaning the upstairs conference room."
Daniel frowned.
"In whose office?"
"Your private meeting room."
Sophia's breathing almost stopped.
Emily continued.
"I wasn't supposed to hear them."
"Hear who?"
She hesitated.
Then spoke the sentence that shattered the evening.
"Someone at this banquet is planning to poison your champagne."
The ballroom erupted.
People backed away from every glass on every table.
Security instantly surrounded Daniel.
Sophia's face turned pale—but only for half a second.
Then she laughed.
"That's ridiculous."
Emily looked directly into Daniel's eyes.
"They mentioned your charity toast."
"They said you'd never finish the speech."
Daniel slowly turned toward the untouched champagne waiting beside his seat.
May you like
For the first time all night...
He didn't want to drink it.
