Chapter 3 - Seeds of Doubt
Julian froze in his tracks, utterly paralyzed, trapped in a psychological crossfire between the weeping woman shivering in his arms and the stoic, unwavering maid who had practically raised him since childhood. Serena’s sobs immediately grew louder and more frantic, a desperate, chaotic symphony designed to drown out Naomi’s damning accusation. "How dare you?" Serena cried out, burying her face deeper into the crook of Julian's neck, her voice muffled by his expensive jacket. "I was only trying to help her! You know how confused she gets!" But Julian, a ruthless corporate attorney trained to read the subtle tells of deceit in high-stakes boardrooms, felt a sudden, involuntary chill run down his spine. He looked past his fiancée and met his mother's eyes. Mrs. Vail's terrified, hyperventilating gaze was fixed solely on Serena—not on her own failing body, and certainly not on Naomi. She looked like a prey animal staring at a predator. Slowly, deliberately, Julian gently disentangled himself from Serena's vice-like grip. He pulled out his phone, his voice devoid of its usual warmth as he ordered Naomi to page the on-call doctor. The seeds of profound doubt had been planted, taking deep root in the dark, opulent corners of the grand manor.
