Chapter 3

Octavia's POV

At 2 AM, the entire Whitmore mansion had fallen into silence.

I crept down the stairs, each step carefully placed. Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting the ballroom in cold shadows.

I had to find evidence.

Where Wren had collapsed yesterday, the carpet had been cleaned spotless, as if nothing had happened. But I remembered the champagne glass she'd been holding before she fell.

I searched the corners, my phone's flashlight beam sweeping across the floor.

Finally, in a trash bin behind the sofa, I found the glass.

There was still a faint pink lipstick mark on the rim—Wren's shade. I carefully picked up the glass and shone my light on the bottom.

A layer of white residue clung there.

Fine, powdery particles stuck to the glass, stark under the light. This definitely wasn't normal wine residue.

I quickly took several photos with my phone, then quietly replaced the glass.

Back in my room, sleep eluded me. Had she known someone was trying to harm her?

First thing the next morning, I rushed to our family doctor's clinic.

"Octavia? Here so early for an appointment?" Dr. Hayes was in his sixties and had known me since childhood.

"Dr. Hayes, I need you to look at something." I pulled out my phone and showed him last night's photos.

He took my phone and studied the images carefully. Within seconds, his expression changed.

"This chemical compound..." He looked up at me. "Octavia, where did you encounter this?"

My heart began racing. "Is it dangerous?"

"Dangerous?" Dr. Hayes removed his glasses, his voice turning grave. "This could be lethal. And this type of substance requires considerable chemical expertise to synthesize."

"Chemical expertise..." I repeated the words.

"Yes, though I can't make a definitive determination from just the particle appearance." He frowned. "Octavia, what's this about?"

"Nothing, just curious." I forced a smile and took back my phone. "Thank you, Dr. Hayes."

Leaving the clinic, my legs felt weak.

It was Delphine. She was the only one in the house with that kind of knowledge.

I drove home and decided to search Delphine's room for more evidence.

While she was out shopping, I snuck into her bedroom.

The room was elegantly decorated in pink and white. But on her desk, I saw a stack of thick chemistry textbooks.

"Organic Chemistry, Fundamentals of Toxicology, Principles of Medicinal Chemistry..."

I opened one and found extensive annotations throughout. The chapters on alkaloid toxins were particularly marked up, with dense notes on nearly every page.

In her drawer, I discovered a set of small laboratory equipment.

Test tubes, graduated cylinders, droppers...

These items had no business being in an ordinary person's bedroom.

"Octavia, what are you doing in my room?"

I spun around. Delphine stood in the doorway, still wearing her sweet smile.

"I..." I frantically pushed the drawer closed. "I was looking for a book."

"Which book? I can help you find it." She entered the room, her gaze sweeping over the areas I'd just searched.

"Never mind, I was mistaken." I hurried toward the door.

"Octavia." Delphine called after me, her voice still gentle. "Next time you want to borrow something, remember to knock first."

I fled the room without looking back.

She knew I'd discovered something.

At dinner, the whole family sat in the dining room.

I watched Delphine across from me as she discussed her doctoral applications with Cassius, her face glowing with happiness.

But I knew what lay beneath that mask.

"Dad." I set down my utensils, my voice trembling. "I need to say something."

"What is it?" Cassius continued cutting his steak without looking up.

"About Wren's death."

The dining room fell silent. Everyone turned to look at me.

"Octavia..." Zephyr frowned. "That's over. Don't bring it up again."

"It's not over!" I shot to my feet. "Wren was murdered!"

"What are you talking about?" Lysander sneered. "The doctor said it was food poisoning."

"It wasn't food poisoning!" I pointed at Delphine, my voice shrill. "It was her! Delphine poisoned Wren's drink!"

Delphine's face went white as tears immediately welled up.

"Octavia... why would you say such a thing?" she choked out. "I cared so much about Wren. How could I possibly..."

"Cared?!" I laughed bitterly. "Are those chemistry books and lab equipment in your room for caring about people?!"

"Those are my study materials!" Delphine cried in defense. "I'm a medical student—it's normal to have those things!"

"Enough!" Cassius slammed the table and stood up. "Octavia! Are you so jealous of Delphine that you'd stoop to this?!"

"I'm not jealous! I have proof!"

"What proof?" Lysander looked at me mockingly. "Your ridiculous suspicions?"

"There were toxic residues in Wren's glass!" I pulled out my phone. "I had a doctor verify it!"

"You went to a doctor behind our backs?" Zephyr's face darkened. "Octavia, have you lost your mind?"

"I haven't lost my mind! You've all lost basic judgment!"

"Octavia, you've disappointed me completely." Zephyr shook his head, looking at me like a stranger. "Delphine is such a sweet girl, and you actually..."

"Sweet?!" I exploded. "What you see is all an act! She's a murderer!"

"Enough!" Cassius roared. "If you slander Delphine one more time, get out of this house!"

"Get out?" I laughed coldly. "This was my home first! She's the outsider!"

Delphine cried harder. "Octavia, I know you don't like me, but I really think of you as my sister..."

"Shut up!"

"Octavia!" Zephyr stood up abruptly. "Apologize to Delphine!"

"Why should I apologize?!" I stared at him. "My friend is dead! Murdered by her! And you want me to apologize to a killer?!"

"You've lost it." Zephyr shook his head. "I don't even recognize you anymore."

I looked at my husband's disappointed expression, my father's angry face, my brother's mocking sneer. My heart felt like it had been stabbed countless times.

"I've lost it?" I laughed bitterly. "Yes, I have. I was crazy enough to think you'd seek justice for me."

I turned to leave the dining room.

"Octavia." Delphine called softly behind me, her voice wounded. "I forgive your misunderstanding. I know you're just too grief-stricken..."

I stopped and slowly turned around.

Delphine was looking at me with those innocent eyes, tears still on her cheeks.

But I clearly saw that beneath those tears, the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned.

A triumphant smile.

"I will find evidence," I said, each word deliberate. "I will prove you're a murderer."

With that, I stormed out of the dining room.

Behind me came Cassius's angry shouts: "That ungrateful daughter! She'll be the death of me!"

And Zephyr's sighs: "She's really sick. She needs to see a doctor..."

Only Delphine said nothing.

I hid around the stair landing, quietly peering down.

After everyone left the dining room, Delphine sat there alone.

She slowly raised her head, the tears already gone from her face.

In their place was a cold smile.

A smile full of malice and satisfaction.

She was laughing at my helplessness, at my isolation, at how I'd never be able to prove the truth.

I gripped the banister tightly, my nails nearly digging into the wood.

In this house, I was the only one who knew the truth.

But I was also the most isolated person.

No one believed me. No one stood by my side.

Not even my beloved husband.

Delphine slowly stood up, smoothed her hair, and put that perfect mask back on.

Then she looked up toward the stairs, as if she knew I was watching.

She silently mouthed words at me:

"You'll never win against me."