Back in the main hall, Silas couldn't focus. His thoughts kept drifting back to the item in the room.
After he messed up several times, Richard finally pulled him aside, irritation written all over his face.
Silas let out a breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Richard, I need to check something in my room," he said. "Can I step away for a bit?" His fingers curled slightly.
"What do you think this birthday banquet is for?" Richard snapped, his sharp tone drawing glances. "You're not going anywhere." He crossed his arms, expression cold.
Silas's jaw tightened. Anxiety twisted into resentment. He thought,
Just as Silas was about to argue, sirens wailed loudly outside.
He froze. A sudden sense of dread crashed over him.
Without another word, Silas shoved past Richard and pushed into the crowd. Spotting Nina, he grabbed her wrist.
"I thought the item was fine," Silas demanded, his voice cracking. "Then why are there police cars outside?" His grip tightened.
Nina flinched, startled. Ignoring the stares around them, she spoke quickly, voice shaking. "I—I said she didn't take it, but… she smashed it…"
Smack.
"Idiot," Silas snarled, eyes bloodshot. His hand still hung in the air for a second.
He didn't wait for anything else. Silas turned and bolted for the exit, panic catching up with him.
Nina stood frozen, staring in the direction Silas had run. The color drained from her face, leaving her pale and stiff.
People nearby began to gather, their expressions shifting.
The same socialites who had admired her earlier now looked at her with pity. Nina felt exposed, like she'd been stripped bare in public.
She thought,
But soon, their attention slipped away.
Police officers flooded the venue, surrounding the entire banquet within minutes. The atmosphere turned tense, whispers spreading through the crowd.
Richard rushed forward, his face dark with anger. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, stepping in front of them.
"We're here to arrest Silas," an officer said flatly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Richard's temper snapped. "That's ridiculous!" he shouted, his voice shaking. "You can't just barge in here and say something like that!" His fists clenched tightly.
He thought, Panic flickered beneath his anger.
The officers ignored him completely.
After confirming Silas wasn't inside, they turned and moved out to search, their footsteps quick and decisive.
Richard spun around, ready to follow—
A voice suddenly echoed through the sound system.
He froze, then whipped his head toward the stage.
Angus stood there, tall and composed, his gaze cold and filled with quiet disdain.
Richard's chest tightened. He thought,
He stepped forward, ready to stop him.
Before he could move, Angus spoke, his voice steady and sharp.
"Eight months ago, I was in a car accident," Angus said, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. "My right leg was permanently injured." He paused briefly.
"At the time, the surveillance footage from that road went missing," Angus continued. "The driver was never found." His tone stayed calm, almost detached.
A chill ran down Richard's spine. When he saw the faint curve of Angus's lips, his blood turned cold.
Without thinking, Richard rushed toward the stage, panic breaking through.
Too late.
"Today, the data was uploaded to the police system," Angus said, his voice echoing across the hall. "It clearly shows the hit-and-run, and the removal of the footage."
He looked down at Richard, who was nearly collapsing.
"The police are here to arrest the driver," Angus continued, eyes cold with mockery. "It's time he faces justice." He paused slightly.
"This has nothing to do with the rest of you," Angus added calmly. "Please enjoy the party." His tone turned almost polite.
The message was clear.
Silas had already been named by the police.
Angus's words were just the final blow.
Richard trembled with rage, his breathing uneven. He thought,
He tried to speak—
A sharp pain exploded in his head. His vision went black.
Richard collapsed.
The hall erupted into chaos. Voices overlapped, sharp and frantic.
Nina lowered her head, her face burning. She hurried toward the exit, steps uneven and rushed.
She thought, Her fingers trembled as she pushed through the crowd.
Sam's gaze sharpened. Without hesitation, he moved after her, weaving through people with quick, steady steps.
News spread fast—Silas had been arrested.
The entire hall buzzed with panic and whispers. Conversations broke apart, replaced by nervous glances and hushed speculation.
And yet, Angus remained completely detached.
He guided his wheelchair down from the stage, movements calm and controlled. Without wasting a second, he tried to contact Liesa.
"Beep… beep…" The signal rang out, empty and unanswered.
Angus's frown deepened. His fingers tightened slightly.
He switched to the listening function.
Silence.
Angus's expression darkened instantly, something sharp flickering in his eyes.
Inside the freezer, Liesa was trembling.
Her body had gone almost numb from the cold. She hugged herself tightly, her teeth chattering without pause.
She thought,
Nothing happened.
Another thought crept in, fragile but urgent.
She thought,
But neither came.
As despair slowly closed in, heavy and suffocating, Liesa's vision began to blur.
She didn't realize—
The brooch had already shut down, its system failing under the freezing temperature.