Part 2: A maid collapsed at a Mafia boss’s engagement party—but a single glass of water uncovered a $120 million betrayal involving his fiancée and his own brother.

The grandfather clock in the corner of Julian’s private study began its heavy, rhythmic chime. Midnight.

Julian’s fingers tightened around the unsigned document until the heavy parchment crinkled beneath his grip. Through the thick mahogany door, Victoria’s voice lingered, dripping with honeyed warmth that now felt like venom.

"Julian? Sweetheart, are you still on the phone? The notary needs the digital scan before the system locks down for the day."

Daniel gave Julian a sharp, questioning nod, silently drawing his concealed pistol and stepping beside the door frame. Julian gestured for him to stand down. Slipping the document into the inner pocket of his tailored jacket, he took a slow, deliberate breath, steadying his pulse before turning the brass handle.

The door swung open to reveal Victoria standing in her silk evening gown, a radiant, manufactured smile gracing her lips. Behind her, standing just slightly back in the dimly lit hallway, was his younger brother, Michael. Michael had shed the caterer’s disguise, now wearing his immaculate black tuxedo once more, but the faint sheen of sweat along his temples gave him away.

"You took your time," Victoria murmured, stepping into the room and immediately casting her eyes toward the empty desk. "Did you sign the authorization? The Ricci trust transfer is scheduled for immediate liquidation. We can’t afford any delay."

"The notary will have to wait until tomorrow," Julian said, his voice a low, impassive rumble. He watched her face closely.

A flicker of irritation cracked through Victoria’s porcelain composure before she smoothed it over. "Tomorrow? Julian, you know the bank’s offshore window closes at midnight. If the Ricci transfer isn't ratified tonight, the entire liquidation clause triggers a federal audit."

"And when did you become so deeply concerned with my family’s estate administration, Victoria?" Julian asked, taking a step toward her. His towering presence usually commanded silence, but tonight, an undercurrent of lethal menace radiated from him. "Especially concerning a trust fund bearing the name of someone I’ve never met?"

Michael stepped forward, clearing his throat nervously. "Julian, come on. Dad set up the Ricci portfolio years ago. We talked about this at the board meeting last month. Victoria is just trying to protect the firm from penalties."

"Is she?" Julian turned his gaze to Michael. The younger brother held his gaze for half a second before his eyes darted toward the grandfather clock, which had just finished its final strike. Twelve o'clock had come and gone.

"You look pale, Michael," Julian observed coldly. "Strange, considering you were full of energy when you were sneaking around the catering carts half an hour ago."

Michael stiffened. Victoria’s eyes narrowed, her hand subtly reaching for her evening clutch. "What are you talking about, Julian? Michael was with me in the ballroom the entire time."

"Daniel," Julian ordered without looking back. "Show them."

Daniel stepped forward and raised his tablet, displaying the high-definition security capture from the catering hallway. There was Michael, bent over the crystal glasses, murmuring the exact words toward Victoria: *She knows everything.*

Silence smothered the room. The air turned brittle enough to shatter.

Victoria let out a soft, dismissive chuckle, though the chill in her eyes was unmistakable. "Julian, you're becoming paranoid. A server fell ill because of an allergic reaction. Michael was helping supervise the staff. You’re ruining our engagement party over ghost stories."

"The server didn't have an allergic reaction," Julian said, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "She was poisoned with synthetic aconite. And the phone call I received two minutes ago wasn't from a ghost. It was from Elliot Ricci."

At the sound of that name, Michael’s face lost every ounce of color. He looked at Victoria with raw, unfiltered terror.

Before either of them could speak, a piercing alarm shattered the mansion's quiet. Red emergency lights began strobing through the hallways, accompanied by the urgent sound of automated lockdown shutters slamming over every window on the ground floor.

Daniel checked his security comms, his voice tight. "Boss—perimeter breach on the north wing. The private medical transport holding Allison was just intercepted at the estate gates."

Julian locked his eyes on Victoria, whose sweet facade had completely vanished, replaced by an expression of cold, ruthless calculation.