Chapter 1 - THE PUSH
The billionaire’s mother was still falling when her son walked into the house.
Her shoulder hit the edge of the marble step.
Then her hip.
Then the side of her head.
“Mom!”
Alexander Reed dropped his briefcase so hard it cracked against the floor.
Evelyn Parker lay twisted at the bottom of the staircase, one hand still reaching toward the railing she had lost.
For one horrible second, nobody moved.
At the top of the stairs stood Victoria Lane.
Beautiful.
Perfectly dressed.
White dress. Diamond earrings. Bare feet.
And a face drained of every drop of color.
Alexander ran to his mother.
“Mom. Mom, look at me.”
Evelyn’s eyelids fluttered.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
Alexander looked up.
“What happened?”
Victoria grabbed the railing.
“She slipped.”
Her voice shook.
“I tried to catch her.”
Alexander stared at her.
“You were behind her?”
“Yes.”
“What were you doing here?”
Victoria swallowed.
Before she could answer, Marcus Cole, Alexander’s head of security, rushed into the lobby carrying a tablet.
“Sir.”
Alexander barely looked at him.
“Call an ambulance.”
“Already did.”
Marcus glanced toward Victoria.
Then back at Alexander.
“But you need to see this.”
Victoria’s breathing stopped.
Alexander stood slowly.
“What is it?”
Marcus tapped the screen.
The camera footage began.
Evelyn walking down the stairs.
Victoria behind her.
Victoria saying something.
Evelyn turning.
Then Victoria stepped forward.
Both hands went into Evelyn’s back.
Hard.
No hesitation.
No accident.
Alexander watched his mother fall on the screen.
Once.
Then again.
Marcus paused the video.
Silence swallowed the room.
Alexander lifted his eyes toward Victoria.
She shook her head.
“No.”
He said nothing.
“Alex, listen to me.”
Still nothing.
“It wasn’t like that.”
Marcus looked at her.
“You pushed her.”
Victoria’s face twisted.
“She was threatening me.”
Alexander’s voice came out low.
“What did you just say?”
“She told me she was going to destroy everything.”
“My mother?”
“She hates me.”
Alexander stepped toward her.
Victoria backed up.
“Alex.”
“You put your hands on my mother.”
“She was going to expose us.”
He stopped.
The words hung in the air.
Marcus’s expression changed.
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
“Expose what?”
Victoria realized too late what she had said.
Her eyes widened.
Alexander’s voice became colder.
“Victoria.”
She looked toward the front door.
Marcus moved between her and the exit.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Victoria laughed nervously.
“Are you kidding me?”
Nobody answered.
From outside came the rising scream of sirens.
Victoria looked down at Evelyn.
Then at Alexander.
Something dark moved across her face.
“You think she’s innocent?”
Alexander took one more step.
Victoria whispered,
“You have no idea what your mother has been hiding from you.”
And before Alexander could answer, Evelyn suddenly opened her eyes.
She grabbed his wrist.
Her fingers were weak.
But her words were clear.
“Don’t trust her.”
Alexander leaned closer.
“Mom?”
Evelyn’s eyes moved toward Victoria.
May you like
Then she whispered something that made Alexander freeze.
“She knows about your father.”
