CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 1
The Livestream Was Already Running
The Crystal Ballroom of the Bellagio Hotel shimmered beneath hundreds of crystal chandeliers.
Business executives, celebrities, and longtime family friends filled the room, celebrating Samuel Mercer's thirty-eighth birthday.
A string quartet played softly.
Champagne flowed freely.
Every camera seemed focused on the guest of honor.
Only one person wasn't watching Samuel.
Adrian Mercer quietly slipped behind his older brother.
His black tuxedo blended perfectly with the crowd.
Inside his jacket pocket rested a tiny silver packet.
He removed it carefully.
No one appeared to notice.
Samuel's glass of red wine sat unattended on a nearby cocktail table.
Adrian moved slowly.
Steadily.
He tore open the packet.
A fine white powder shimmered beneath the ballroom lights.
Just before it reached the wine...
A hand firmly caught his wrist.
Adrian froze.
He turned.
Samuel stood directly behind him.
His expression remained calm.
There was no anger.
No surprise.
Only disappointment.
Without saying a word...
Samuel slowly raised his smartphone.
The screen faced Adrian.
A bright red banner flashed across the display.
🔴 LIVE — 128,347 VIEWERS
The number continued climbing.
Thousands of comments flooded the screen.
"What's happening?"
"Is this real?"
"Who's the guy holding the powder?"
"Someone call security!"
Adrian's heartbeat quickened.
"You..."
Samuel smiled faintly.
"I've been live for eleven minutes."
Adrian looked around the ballroom.
No one seemed to realize the birthday speech had never actually begun.
Everyone thought Samuel was simply greeting his online followers.
Only Adrian knew the camera had been pointed at him.
Samuel leaned closer.
Quietly enough that no one else could hear.
"I've been waiting all evening."
Adrian whispered,
"You knew?"
Samuel nodded once.
"I knew someone would try."
Adrian looked down at the packet still trapped in his hand.
"You think it's poison."
Samuel didn't answer.
Instead, he turned the phone slightly.
The comments continued racing upward.
Then one comment suddenly caught Adrian's attention.
DON'T LET HIM THROW IT AWAY.
His face changed instantly.
That comment hadn't come from a random viewer.
Someone watching the livestream...
Already knew what was inside the packet.
Someone...
Who had expected this exact moment.
👇 Chapter 2
