Chapter 3 - Shadows of Greenwich
Vanessa scoffed, though her hands knotted into the silk fabric of her dress. ""Elena asked me to pick it up for her! She was busy with Chloe. You're grasping at straws because you're terrified of moving on, Julian. You're self-sabotaging!""
""Then why did you tell Chloe that her mother's death was her fault?"" Julian challenged, stepping closer. ""Why manipulate a six-year-old child to keep her away from the ceremony?""
Vanessa remained silent, her jaw clenched tight.
Marcus stepped forward, holding a tablet connected to the estate’s private security network. ""Julian. You need to see this.""
Julian glanced down at the live feeds. Outside the perimeter gates of the estate, a nondescript black sedan had been idling by the tree line for over forty minutes. When the chapel security guards approached the vehicle to clear the lane, the car had abruptly reversed, clipping an iron post before speeding north toward the county line.
""Whose car was that, Vanessa?"" Julian asked quietly.
""I have no idea!"" she snapped, losing her composed facade. ""You're acting paranoid! Let me leave, Julian, or Arthur will call the commissioner.""
""Go ahead,"" Julian said, gesturing to the open foyer. ""Call him. In fact, let’s bring in the State Bureau of Investigation. Because thirty minutes before I walked down that aisle, my forensic accountant flagged three offshore wire transfers routed through your family foundation's blind trusts. Totaling four million dollars. All originating from Elena’s family estate within forty-eight hours of her disappearance.""
Arthur Sterling’s eyes flared wide, snapping his head toward his daughter. ""Vanessa... what did you do?""
""Dad, don't listen to him!"" she cried, panic breaking her smooth cadence. ""He’s trying to destroy our reputation!""
""You didn't love me,"" Julian said, the realization settling in with absolute clarity. ""You were Elena’s college roommate. You watched her inherit the Northwood maritime trust, and you spent five years waiting for an opening to take it.""
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Suddenly, Marcus’s radio crackled. A frantic security guard's voice broke through the static: ""Mr. Vance, we have a breach at the southern boathouse. Someone just cut the chain-link fence from the beach side. They're heading toward the private docks.""
Vanessa’s head snapped toward the terrace windows. Julian caught the split-second flash of recognition in her eyes—not fear of an intruder, but fear of a liability arriving uninvited.
