CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 3
The Powder Wasn't Meant for the Wine
Samuel quietly led Adrian into a private conference room beside the ballroom.
The livestream had ended.
Outside, the birthday party continued as if nothing had happened.
Inside...
Only the two brothers remained.
Samuel placed the silver packet on the polished conference table.
Then slid another packet from his jacket.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"You have one too?"
Samuel nodded.
"I received it this morning."
The two packets looked identical.
Same silver wrapping.
Same size.
Same weight.
Samuel pressed the intercom.
"Bring Dr. Foster."
Within minutes, the hotel's emergency physician entered carrying a portable testing kit.
He carefully opened Adrian's packet.
Then Samuel's.
Everyone waited.
The doctor looked up.
His expression was unexpected.
"Neither of these contains poison."
Adrian frowned.
"What?"
"It's pharmaceutical-grade activated charcoal."
Silence.
Samuel slowly leaned back.
"So someone wanted us to believe this was poison."
The doctor nodded.
"Exactly."
Adrian looked confused.
"Then why send anonymous messages?"
Samuel answered before anyone else could.
"Because the powder was never the real weapon."
Just then...
Samuel's assistant rushed into the room.
"Sir..."
"We have a problem."
She handed him another phone.
"This isn't from the livestream."
"It's from your corporate email."
Samuel opened the message.
No sender.
No signature.
Only one sentence.
The wine was only there to distract you.
Adrian immediately looked toward the ballroom.
"The birthday cake..."
Samuel shook his head.
"No."
"Something much bigger."
At that exact moment...
The giant LED screen inside the ballroom suddenly went black.
Then dozens of confidential financial documents appeared on the screen.
Thousands of guests looked up.
Every conversation stopped.
Samuel's smile disappeared.
Only four people in the world had access to those files.
One of them...
Was standing somewhere inside the ballroom.
👇 Chapter 4
