Chapter 2:THE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE SHE NEVER KNEW EXISTED...
The hallway outside the private suite erupted into controlled chaos.
"Nurse!"
"Call Trauma One!"
"She's bleeding!"
Medical staff rushed past Damian Ashford, Chief of Surgery at St. Vincent Medical Center—and the man every employee simply called Doctor Ashford.
Only a handful of people knew another truth.
He wasn't merely the hospital director.
He was Evelyn Sterling's uncle.
His face drained of color the moment he recognized the young woman lying on the marble floor.
"Evelyn!"
He dropped beside her without hesitation.
She gripped his sleeve with trembling fingers.
"My baby..."
"I know."
His voice remained steady, but his hands betrayed him.
They were shaking.
A trauma team arrived seconds later.
Marcus Sterling stood frozen.
His expensive tuxedo suddenly felt like armor made of stone.
Blood continued spreading beneath his wife's body.
For the first time that evening...
fear finally reached him.
"What happened?"
Before anyone answered—
Sophia Lang stumbled forward, tears streaming down perfectly made-up cheeks.
"She attacked me."
Her voice cracked beautifully.
"I only defended myself."
Marcus looked from Sophia...
to Evelyn...
to the shattered crystal covering the floor.
Nothing made sense.
Until Damian slowly stood.
His expression had become frighteningly calm.
"Security."
Two officers stepped forward.
"Seal this floor."
Nobody leaves.
Sophia's confidence flickered.
Only slightly.
Then Damian added one sentence.
May you like
"Bring me the surveillance footage."
The color disappeared from her face.
