“She’s hosting a party.”
Adrian frowned.
“A party?”
“For investors. Press. Important people.”
A faint smile touched Martha’s lips.
“She’ll want to look perfect.”
Adrian understood.
And for the first time…
a plan formed.
The next day, the house came alive.
Decorations.
Staff.
Music.
Appearances.
Vanessa stood at the center of it all.
Elegant.
Confident.
Flawless.
“Family is everything,” she said into the microphone.
Adrian watched from the shadows.
His hands trembled—not from fear.
From resolve.
Martha whispered beside him:
“Now.”
He stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
The room slowly fell silent.
Vanessa stopped speaking.
Their eyes met.
For a moment—
she looked like she’d seen a ghost.
“Adrian?” she said.
Then quickly recovered.
“Love… you should be resting—”
He said nothing.
Just raised the phone.
And pressed play.
Derek’s voice echoed:
“Small doses… no one notices…”
Then hers.
Clear.
Cold.
“When the boy dies… everything gets easier.”
The room erupted.
Gasps.
Whispers.
Shock.
Vanessa stepped back.
“That’s a lie!”
“It’s not,” Adrian said firmly.
Martha stepped forward.
“I saw everything.”
“You’re nothing!” Vanessa screamed.
But her voice cracked.
Desperate.
“I was invisible,” Martha replied calmly. “That’s what saved him.”
Sirens.