Chapter 6 - The Rose Crushed Under Her Heel
Margaret slapped the rose from Claire’s hand.
It struck the marble floor.
Before Claire could reach it, Margaret stepped down.
Her heel crushed the flower.
The tiny microphone cracked beneath her shoe.
A burst of static filled Detective Mason’s headphones.
The audio feed disappeared.
Inside the chapel, Claire stared at the broken petals.
Margaret’s breathing turned harsh.
“You recorded us.”
Victor grabbed the remains of the microphone and examined them.
“Who is listening?”
Claire stayed silent.
Margaret seized her face between one hand and forced her to look up.
“You think a recording will protect you?”
Claire pulled away.
“I think the truth will.”
Margaret laughed, but panic sharpened the sound.
“There is no truth without proof.”
She looked toward the relatives.
“Everyone leave. Now.”
No one moved at first.
Then Victor stepped toward the doors and shouted.
“This is a private family matter!”
Two security guards employed by Vale Biotech began pushing guests toward the exits.
Claire looked toward the coffin.
Daniel remained motionless.
The feed had been cut.
Detective Mason could no longer hear what was happening.
The police had not entered because the agreement was clear: they would move only when Daniel said one word.
Now.
But Daniel could not speak too early.
The medical team had warned that the drug slowing his body could not be reversed safely until they gave him the counteragent hidden beneath the coffin lining.
Claire needed to reach it.
Margaret grabbed the unsigned replacement waiver from the folder.
“You will sign this one.”
“No.”
Margaret slapped Claire across the face.
The sound echoed through the chapel.
Claire stumbled against the coffin.
Her palm landed near Daniel’s shoulder.
Beneath the satin, she felt a small raised tube.
The counteragent.
Daniel’s eyes stayed closed, but his fingers touched her wrist.
One tap.
Wait.
Margaret raised her hand again.
Leonard Price, the family attorney, stepped between them.
“That is enough.”
Margaret glared at him.
“You work for me.”
“I work for the Vale estate.”
“The estate belongs to me.”
Leonard looked toward Daniel.
“Not according to the will I witnessed.”
Margaret’s face froze.
Victor turned sharply.
“What will?”
May you like
Leonard reached inside his jacket.
👉 The family attorney had brought a document Margaret had never seen—and it proved Daniel expected her betrayal long before his funeral.
