Chapter 2 - The Silent House
By evening, the house was hollow. Bouquets of cream roses withered on mantels; the untouched three-tier cake sat cordoned off with yellow caution tape in the kitchen. Forensics had already taken scrape samples, confirming concentrated belladonna extract—enough to cause fatal cardiac arrest within hours.
Thomas sat alone on the patio, loosening his black bow tie. His brother Mark, Lily’s father, walked out carrying two mugs of black coffee.
"She’s in holding," Mark said softly, leaning against the cedar railing. "She hasn't said a word without a lawyer present."
May you like
"I gave her everything," Thomas murmured, staring at the lawn where hours ago children played. "My home, my late parents' legacy, my trust. Why?"
"People hide debts, Thomas. Desperation rots good souls." Mark placed a hand on his brother’s tense shoulder. Inside, Lily watched from her bedroom window, holding her teddy bear, wondering if doing the right thing was supposed to hurt this much.
