Chapter 3
The revelation that the matriarch of the Ashford syndicate was essentially holding an empty lifeline sent a shockwave of absolute terror through the dining room. The guests, hardened criminals and high-society aristocrats alike, held their breath. No one dared to move a muscle under the crushing weight of the silence.
Estelle Shaw moved quickly, desperate to regain control of the narrative before Dominic unleashed his legendary wrath. She briefly, almost imperceptibly, avoided looking directly at the silver pillbox resting on the table. Instead, she turned her head and met Dominic’s intense eyes. A reassuring, polished smile arrived slightly late to her fair, aristocratic face, failing to reach the coldness in her gaze.
"Your mother misplaces everything, darling," Estelle stated, her American accent dripping with a manufactured, gentle sweetness. "You know how she gets during the holidays. The stress, the noise... she is clearly confused. She likely put the sweets in there herself and left the medication upstairs."
Dominic did not respond to Estelle immediately. He simply stared at her, absorbing the flawless execution of her lie. The bright cinematic light illuminated the tiny bead of sweat forming at her temple, betraying her internal panic.
"Is it your professional medical opinion that my mother has lost her mind, Estelle?" Dominic asked, his voice remaining deeply controlled, though the lethal undertone was unmistakable.
"I am merely pointing out the obvious, Dominic," Estelle countered, keeping her smile fixed. "She is sixty-eight years old. Her memory is slipping. It is a tragedy, but we must be realistic. There is no conspiracy here. This maid is simply serving dessert, and your mother made a harmless mistake."
"A harmless mistake that could trigger a fatal cardiac event," Dominic corrected slowly. "You seem remarkably unconcerned with her immediate physical safety, Estelle."
"I am entirely concerned!" Estelle argued, placing a perfectly manicured hand on his tailored sleeve. "I will personally go upstairs and search her vanity for the spare bottles. I assure you, it is just a simple oversight. We shouldn't ruin this beautiful Christmas Eve dinner over a misplaced pill."
"Do not touch me," Dominic commanded quietly.
Estelle pulled her hand back as if she had been burned, her diamond earrings shaking as she realized her charm was entirely ineffective.
May you like
"You are being paranoid, Dominic," Estelle whispered, leaning in closer to him so the guests couldn't hear the desperation in her voice. "You are embarrassing me in front of the entire syndicate. Let the guards handle the search. Sit down and let us finish this meal."
"I will not sit down while my mother is holding a box of candy instead of her life support," Dominic replied, his deep voice carrying enough volume to ensure the room heard him. "And I do not believe my mother misplaced anything."
