Chapter 295: The murder

Words : 1570 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 295: The murder "I have something for you," Paule said quietly, his hands still trembling as he reached into the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a jewelry box. "It’s just a small gift, but we chose it with love. I hope you’ll like it." For a moment, his fingers brushed the smooth surface. Then he extended it to Anne. "Here. Take a look." Anne accepted the box, curious as to what Paule had brought for her. She opened with anticipation brimming in her eyes. Inside, nestled in velvet, was a simple gold bracelet. Unlike the grand, dazzling gifts she had received earlier, this one was modest, yet it stirred deep emotions in her. She couldn’t begin to imagine how Paule had managed to set aside his hard-earned money just to buy it for her. Tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them. "I love it," she whispered, smiling through the tears. She lifted the bracelet from the box. "Will you help me put it on?" Paule nodded and fastened it around her wrist. Anne looked down at the bracelet, turning her wrists. "This is one of the most precious gifts I’ve ever received." Paule and Patricia beamed as they watched Anne admire the bracelet. Her reaction, so full of emotion, chased away every trace of their earlier doubt. All the anxiety they had carried into the evening melted in that single moment of warm acceptance. But off to the side, Oliver stood still, his face bleak. A tight knot coiled in his chest as he watched Anne’s eyes light up. His thoughts drifted back to that morning, when Anne had first arrived at the mansion. He had gifted her an exquisite diamond necklace. She had smiled and thanked him, saying she liked it. But there had been a noticeable absence of warmth in her eyes. Now, watching her gaze at Paule with such pure affection, watching her face glow with joy and gratitude, Oliver understood that the connection she had with her foster father ran deeper than he had expected. To Anne, Paule wasn’t just the man who had taken her in—he was her father. The realization cut deep. If only he had looked deeper and not been deceived by Susan’s lies, none all this would have happened. His daughter wouldn’t have grown up without him. He would be the one bringing that smile to her face now. Regret sank its claws into him. He stood in silence, feeling the weight of past mistakes pressing on his heart. "Oliver, what happened to the music?" a voice called out from the crowd, cutting through the emotional tension. "It’s a celebration, but everyone looks ready to cry." "Exactly," others chimed in, laughter rising. "We came to party, not swim in a flood of tears." The mood lightened instantly as the room broke into laughter. Nathan stepped forward, raising his hands. "Alright, alright—calm down, everyone. The live orchestra will begin shortly. Please enjoy the performance." With that, the stage was cleared, and the family members stepped down, giving space to the musicians setting up. The lights dimmed slightly as the orchestra tuned their instruments, the buzz of anticipation replacing the earlier emotion. In the shadows near the edge of the stage, Margaret moved in close to Oliver. "Clever move, Oliver," she scoffed. "You dodged it. You said nothing about how our daughter went missing. I see you still know how to disappoint me. Don’t think that giving Anne expensive gifts, shares, and properties will change anything. I won’t forgive you." Oliver turned to face her, displeased. "You think I planned that?" he hissed. "I was ready to speak. I will tell the truth. But I’m not doing it for you." His voice dropped. "I’m doing it for Anne. For the guilt I’ve carried every single day. Whoever was responsible for what happened to her, myself included, will be held accountable. This has nothing to do with your forgiveness." With that, Oliver walked away. He snatched a glass of wine off a passing tray and took a long sip. Margaret seethed, fists clenched. Unaware of the tension simmering between them, Anne and Augustine had found a rare quiet moment in the corner, their fingers laced together. "Are you tired?" Augustine asked, brushing a thumb across her knuckles. "Do you want me to take you back to your room?" Anne shook her head. "No, I’m fine. Actually, I’m loving it. Everyone seems genuinely happy, and the atmosphere." She looked around, eyes sparkling with contentment. "It’s infectious. Plus, the orchestra is about to start. I don’t want to miss a second." "If you are sure," he whispered, his hand rising to caress her cheek. His touch made her heart flutter. He moved closer to her, lifting her chin slightly. "If you get hungry, just say the word. I’ll bring you something." As he spoke, his lips almost brushed hers. She smiled teasingly. "I am hungry for something else," she whispered. He got the meaning of her words and leaned down to kiss her. Before their lips could meet, a familiar voice cut in. "Anne, have you forgotten me already?" They both pulled back instantly and turned to see Audrey standing nearby, grinning widely. "Audrey!" Anne gasped with joy. She stepped forward and threw her arms around her friend. "You made it. I thought you weren’t coming." "As if I’d miss this?" Audrey laughed as she hugged her back. "It’s one of the biggest nights of your life. How could I not be here?" She stepped back, taking Anne’s hands in hers. "You look absolutely radiant." "Thanks," Anne blushed. "Where is your boyfriend? Didn’t he come with you?" "No..." Audrey said, still smiling. "He had to fly home for something urgent. I was supposed to go with him, but I couldn’t miss your celebration. So I stayed. I’ll be flying out tomorrow." "Tomorrow?" Anne’s brows rose. "So you are finally moving abroad?" Audrey nodded. "Yep. But don’t give me that look. It’s not goodbye forever. Augustine and Lucien are close, and so are we. We’ll see each other often, I promise. No tears allowed." She pulled Anne into another hug, holding her close. Anne returned the embrace, smiling, though heaviness settled in her heart. "I’m really happy for you. You are finally going to be with your boyfriend." While the conversation carried on, Augustine moved a few steps away, phone held to his ear. The music started playing, and the guests erupted into cheers. Audrey pulled Anne to the center of the hall, swaying to the rhythm of the jazz. The music pulsed through the hall, drawing cheers and claps from the guests. But just as the energy reached its peak, a piercing scream shattered the atmosphere. "Murder! Murder!" The music halted all of a sudden. Heads turned, chatter died, and the crowd parted as a middle-aged woman stumbled into the room. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with terror, her whole body shaking. "There is a body in the bathroom," she shrieked. "Someone has been killed." Gasps rippled through the hall. Shock spread like a wave. "What the hell is going on?" Nathan barked, pushing forward. "Guards." A handful of security staff surged in. "Check the bathroom—now," Nathan ordered, already moving after them. Meanwhile, Augustine, still on the phone, remained collected but alert. His eyes scanned the room like a hawk. "Find out what’s happening immediately," he said into the phone. "The killer might still be inside. Seal the estate. No one leaves." "Understood, sir," came Gustave’s reply from the other end. Just as Augustine ended the call, another scream cut through the stunned silence. "Anne... You don’t deserve any of this." A blur of motion broke from the crowd. Megan, eyes blazing, a knife clutched tightly in her hand, charged straight at Anne. The crowd stood rooted in place, mouths agape, unable to move or speak. Even Anne was frozen, her legs locked, heart hammering. Augustine lunged forward, but he was too far. Oliver reacted instinctively. Without thinking, he threw himself between his daughter and the blade. The knife plunged into his stomach. Gasps turned to horrified cries as blood began to seep through Oliver’s shirt. The crowd stumbled backward, faces pale, hands over mouths. "Dad!" Anne cried out, trying to rush toward Oliver, but Audrey held her back, arms wrapped tightly around her, preventing her from getting closer to the chaos. Oliver staggered, his eyes wide with pain and disbelief as he looked at Megan. It was the same girl he had once welcomed into his home, cared for, trusted, and loved with all his heart. But all he could see was pure hatred and rage in her eyes. He couldn’t recognize her anymore. He wondered if it was the same Megan he had raised with so much love and care. "So much hatred..." he gasped, his voice trembling. "I raised you. I gave you everything. Why would you do this?" Megan’s expression twisted into a cold sneer. "Because you were never my father," she spat. "I was just a piece of my father’s revenge. We planned this to take everything from you." Her sneer turned dangerous. "You want to know why? Because you betrayed him. You ruined him. You threw him into prison like garbage. Don’t act like the victim now. You were the real villain." And then, with no hesitation, she stabbed him again.

Chapter 295: The murder

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