Chapter 1 - Don’t Drink That
The Carter mansion had never frightened Sophie before.
She had grown up beneath its crystal chandeliers, hidden under its dining table during holiday parties, and fallen asleep more than once on the enormous cream sofa while adults discussed money she did not understand.
But that afternoon, the dining room felt different.
Too many people.
Too many smiles.
Too many adults watching her father.
Ethan Carter sat at the head of the formal dining table, calmly raising a porcelain cup toward his mouth.
Sophie stood in the doorway.
Her face changed.
“Dad, don’t drink that!”
Ethan barely had time to turn.
Sophie rushed forward and struck the cup from his hand.
Porcelain shattered across marble.
Tea splashed over the floor.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Ethan pushed his chair backward and stood.
At forty, he rarely shouted at Sophie.
That made it worse.
She stepped back but did not run.
Her finger trembled toward the puddle.
“I saw Claire put something in it.”
Silence.
Claire, standing near the chandelier in her elegant cream dress, went rigid.
Every guest looked at her.
“She’s lying!”
Ethan’s anger disappeared almost instantly.
He turned from Claire to Sophie.
Sophie shook her head violently.
“She did the exact same thing to my mom.”
Claire’s face lost all color.
Ethan looked down at the spilled tea.
Then back at his daughter.
“My wife never drank tea.”
Sophie looked directly into his eyes.
“I know.”
Ethan stopped breathing.
Sophie slowly lifted her hand.
Not toward Claire.
Past him.
Toward someone sitting behind his chair.
Claire turned first.
Her expression was no longer merely frightened.
It was defeated.
Ethan started to turn.
Then one of the guests abruptly stood.
A chair scraped violently across marble.
“Enough.”
Ethan looked over his shoulder.
His mother, Eleanor Carter, sat at the far end of the table, perfectly still.
Beside her stood Carter family attorney Adrian Cole.
Sophie’s finger remained raised.
But Ethan could not tell which one she meant.
Before he could ask, Claire lunged toward the broken cup.
“Don’t touch it!” Sophie screamed.
Everyone froze.
Sophie pointed at the spilled tea.
“There were little white pieces.”
Ethan looked at Claire.
“What did you put in my drink?”
Claire’s eyes filled with tears.
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
Claire looked past Ethan.
Toward Eleanor.
May you like
And whispered:
“Not while she’s here.”
