Selena clutched the crystal paperweight, her only weapon against the three people she once trusted. Her heart hammered in her chest.
"Please," she begged, "why are you doing this?"
Vivian stepped closer, her eyes cold like a snake's. "Why? Because everything you have should have been mine. I married your father for his money, not to be stuck with his spoiled daughter."
"You never deserved any of this," Jade added, the little bottle still in her hand. "I've been living in your shadow for years. It's my turn now."
Noah leaned against the door, blocking the only exit. "The company, the mansion, the money – it was always about that, Selena. Never about you."
Selena's mind raced. The window was too high. The door was blocked. But maybe...
"Fine," she said, lowering the paperweight slightly. "If it's the money you want, take it. I'll sign whatever you want. Just let me go."
Vivian laughed, the sound sharp and cruel. "Oh, sweetheart. It's too late for that. You've heard our plan. We can't exactly let you walk out of here now, can we?"
"The toast is waiting," Noah said, checking his watch. "Everyone's wondering where the happy couple disappeared to."
Selena saw a tiny opening. They wanted to take her back to the party. That meant witnesses, people, a chance to escape or call for help.
"Okay," she said slowly. "Let's go back. I'll drink whatever you want. Just... just give me a minute to fix my makeup. I don't want anyone to see I've been crying."
Vivian narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Jade, go with her."
"No way," Jade said. "She might try something."
"I won't," Selena promised, setting down the paperweight as a peace offering. "You win. I just want it to be over."
The three exchanged looks. Finally, Noah nodded. "Two minutes in the bathroom. The door stays open. Then we go back and finish this."
Selena moved toward the library's small bathroom, her legs shaking. Her mind whirled with desperate ideas. The bathroom had a small window – too small for her to fit through, but maybe she could signal someone outside? Or find something else to use as a weapon?
"One minute," Noah called as she entered the bathroom.
Selena turned on the water and pretended to wash her face. The window was frosted glass and barely opened. No help there. She searched the cabinet quietly – nothing but hand soap and tissues.
Then she spotted it – a fire alarm on the wall just outside the bathroom door. If she could reach it...
"Time's up," Jade snapped.
Selena dried her face and took a deep breath. This was her only chance.
She stepped out of the bathroom and, in one quick move, lunged for the fire alarm and pulled it hard.
BRRRRRRRRRR!
The ear-splitting noise filled the mansion. Vivian screamed in anger and grabbed for Selena, but she was too slow.
"Fire!" Selena shouted, racing past Noah, who was momentarily startled by the alarm. "Everyone out!"
She burst into the hallway, nearly colliding with confused guests who were looking around for smoke.
"Selena! What's happening?" someone asked.
"Fire in the east wing!" she lied, pushing through the crowd. "Everyone needs to leave now!"
People began moving toward the stairs, voices rising in panic. Selena went with them, desperately looking for a friendly face – security guards she could trust, or Mia, who must have arrived by now.
"Selena!" Noah's voice called over the crowd. "Stop her!"
She glanced back to see Noah pointing at her, his face twisted with rage. Beside him, Vivian was telling the guard something, probably that Selena had pulled the alarm as a prank.
Selena pushed harder through the crowd, making it to the grand staircase. If she could just get outside, she could run to the gatehouse where old Mr. Peterson lived. He had worked for her grandmother for forty years – he would help her.
Halfway down the stairs, a strong hand grabbed her arm.
"Let go of me!" she yelled, turning to see one of the security guards. "They're trying to kill me!"
The guard's face remained blank. "Ms. Carter, please calm down. Mrs. Carter says you're not feeling well."
"She's lying! They all are! They're planning to poison me!"
Guests stopped to stare. Some looked concerned, others embarrassed for her.
"The stress of the engagement has been too much," Vivian's smooth voice came from behind. She had reached the stairs and was smiling apologetically at the guests. "Poor Selena has been working too hard on the wedding plans."
"No!" Selena struggled against the guard's grip. "They want my money! They were in the office talking about poisoning me! Someone call the police!"
Whispers spread through the crowd. Was the Carter heiress having a breakdown?
"I think we should end the party," Vivian announced sadly. "Selena clearly needs to rest."
"No!" Selena spotted Mia at the bottom of the stairs, looking up with confusion. "Mia! Help me! Call the police!"
Before Mia could respond, Noah appeared at Selena's side, his public face full of concern.
"Sweetheart, you're burning up." He placed a hand on her forehead. "Let's get you some water and medicine."
"Don't touch me!" Selena yanked away, but the guard held her firmly.
Noah turned to the guard. "Take her to her room, please. I'll bring the doctor."
"No doctor," Vivian interrupted. "Just some water and her heart medication. You know how she gets when she forgets to take it."
Heart medication? Selena didn't have any heart problems or medication. That's when she realized – that's how they would explain her death. A heart attack from a known condition. The perfect cover story.
As the guard pulled her up the stairs, Selena locked eyes with Mia, trying to send a silent message: Help me. But Mia just stood there, looking worried and confused.
"Please," Selena begged the guard. "They're going to kill me. I'm not crazy. I heard them planning it."
The guard's grip tightened. "Sorry, miss. I have my orders."
Orders. Of course. Vivian had said the guards were paid off.
They reached her bedroom, and the guard pushed her inside, closing the door behind her.
Selena ran to the window, but it was sealed shut – a "safety feature" Vivian had insisted on installing last year. The phone on her nightstand had no dial tone.
She was trapped.
Minutes later, the door opened. Noah entered carrying a glass of water, followed by Vivian and Jade.
"That was quite a show," Vivian said, locking the door behind them. "Unfortunately, it changes nothing."
"People heard me," Selena said, backing away. "They'll ask questions."
"They heard a stressed bride having a meltdown," Noah replied. "Happens all the time."
Jade smiled cruelly. "By tomorrow, they'll be sending sympathy cards about your tragic heart attack."
Selena's back hit the wall. There was nowhere left to run.
Noah held out the glass. "Drink this. Now."
"No."
"We can do this the hard way," Vivian warned, pulling out a syringe from her purse. "Force it into you, make it messy. Or you can drink it like a good girl and go to sleep peacefully."
Selena's eyes darted around the room. The balcony door was locked with a key she didn't have. The bathroom had no windows big enough. No weapons, no way out.
"Tick tock," Noah said, stepping closer with the glass. "The poison in here works fast. You'll feel sleepy, then nothing at all."
Selena thought of her father, her grandmother – both dead, possibly murdered by these same people. She thought of all her dreams, her plans for the future. She couldn't let it end like this.
"At least tell me why," she whispered, stalling for time. "Why did you pretend to love me, Noah?"
Something flickered in his eyes – regret? Shame? But it vanished quickly.
"It was never personal, Selena. Just business."
He pressed the glass to her lips. Selena kept her mouth shut, tears streaming down her face.
"Hold her," Vivian ordered.
Jade grabbed Selena's arms while Vivian pinched her nose closed. Selena held her breath as long as she could, but eventually she had to gasp for air.
The moment her lips parted, Noah poured the liquid into her mouth and clamped his hand over her lips.
"Swallow," he commanded.
Selena tried to resist, but Vivian pressed on her throat, forcing her to swallow the bitter liquid.
"There," Vivian said, finally releasing her. "It won't be long now."
Selena slid to the floor, her vision already starting to blur. She felt strange – heavy and light at the same time.
"What... what will you do with me?" she managed to ask, her words slurring.
"A tragic accident," Vivian explained, watching her coldly. "Poor Selena, overwhelmed by the party, took too much of her medication and then fell from her balcony into the pool. Such a terrible accident."
Selena tried to stand but her legs wouldn't work. The poison was spreading through her body quickly.
"You... won't... get away..." she mumbled.
The three of them looked down at her, their faces becoming harder to see as darkness crept in at the edges of her vision.
"We already have," Jade said, smiling.
As consciousness slipped away, Selena heard them planning how to move her to the balcony.
Her last thought before darkness took her was a silent promise: If I survive this somehow, I will make you all pay.
But the darkness swallowed her completely, and Selena Carter knew no more.