The toddler's innocent words that saved the mafia boss's life.

Lucy giggled, thinking it was a game, and darted through the formally dressed guests. Nora followed closely behind, ignoring the disapproving glares of the senior staff who noticed her slightly crooked headband and loose strands of hair.

Vivian reached Alaric just as he finished his conversation with Silas. The crystal chandeliers caught the sparkle of Vivian's emerald gown and the gold evening clutch tucked under her arm.

"You have been working all evening, darling," Vivian said, her voice smooth and intoxicating. She held out one of the champagne flutes. "Take a moment to celebrate with your wife."

Alaric looked at her, his angular jaw relaxing slightly. He reached out to take the flute, his artistic, negative-space tattoos stark against the delicate crystal glass.

"To a prosperous new year," Alaric replied, his deep voice carrying over the music.

Before Alaric could raise the flute to his lips, Lucy burst through the crowd, her red velvet dress and cream reindeer cardigan a blur of motion. She ran straight to her father, clutching her plush snowman.

"Daddy!" Lucy cried out happily.

Alaric paused, lowering the glass to look down at his daughter. A genuine, soft smile broke through his imposing mafia facade. "What is it, little one?"

Lucy stopped right beside Vivian. The toddler looked up, her eyes drawn to the gold evening clutch that was resting slightly open under Vivian's arm. Inside the clutch, the unmarked pill bottle was clearly visible.

Lucy pointed a tiny, innocent finger directly toward Vivian’s partly open clutch. She looked up at Alaric with bright, innocent recognition.

"Daddy!" Lucy announced, her voice ringing out with absolute clarity. "Vivvy’s night-night pills!"

The words seemed to echo off the gilded mirrors. The guests standing immediately nearby paused their conversations. Alaric stopped moving entirely. He kept the champagne flute perfectly still below chest level. His dark, observant eyes shifted from his daughter to the open gold clutch, registering the unmarked white bottle resting inside.

Vivian froze. The polished, affectionate smile on her face vanished, only to return a fraction of a second too late. It was a microscopic delay, but to a man who survived by reading human deception, it was a glaring confession.