Arthur: Guards, take her away now.
Victoria: You'll regret this, Arthur! My lawyers will tear you apart!
Victoria was led out of the hall, her heels clicking angrily against the marble.
The remaining wealthy guests stood in uncomfortable silence, holding their champagne glasses.
Arthur: Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize. The dinner is canceled.
Arthur: Please head to your cars. My staff will arrange valets.
The guests quickly filed out, whispering frantic rumors to one another.
Within ten minutes, the giant banquet hall was empty except for Arthur and Elena.
Arthur sat down heavily on a velvet chair, looking older than his seventy-two years.
Arthur: Are you alright, Elena?
Elena: I'm fine, sir. My cheek just stings a little.
Arthur: She hit you very hard. You didn't deserve that.
Elena: I was only worried about you, Mr. Sterling.
Arthur: How long have you worked for my family?
Elena: Just four months, sir. My mother worked here years ago.
Arthur: Your mother? Who is your mother?
Elena: Sarah Vance. She was the head housekeeper in the nineties.
Arthur stared at Elena, his eyes widening in recognition.
Arthur: Sarah's daughter... I should have known. You have her eyes.
Elena: She always told me you were a fair man, Mr. Sterling.
Arthur: Why did you record Victoria in the pantry?
Elena: I heard her on the phone yesterday afternoon.
Arthur: What did she say?
Elena: She was talking to a man named Marcus. She mentioned a life insurance policy.
Arthur's posture stiffened instantly.
Arthur: Marcus? Marcus Vance?
Elena: No, Marcus Kane. Her tax attorney.
Arthur: That son of a gun.
Elena: She told him that by tonight, the entire estate inheritance would belong to her.
Arthur: She thought she had it all figured out.
Elena: So when I saw her in the pantry near your specific bottle, I turned my camera on.
Arthur: You saved my life, child. A simple thank you isn't enough.
Elena: You don't owe me anything, sir. I was doing what was right.
Siren lights began flashing through the grand stained-glass windows of the mansion entrance.
Arthur: The police are here. Stay near me, Elena.
Two police officers walked into the banquet hall, led by Detective Miller.
Detective Miller: Mr. Sterling, we received a call regarding an attempted poisoning.
Arthur: Yes, Detective. My wife tried to poison my wine.
Detective Miller: That's a very heavy accusation, sir.
Arthur: We have video proof, the bottle, and the decanter intact.
Elena: I recorded the whole thing on my phone, Detective.
Detective Miller: Let me see the footage, please.
Elena handed her phone over to the detective, who watched the video closely.
Detective Miller: Where is Mrs. Sterling right now?
Arthur: My security team is holding her in the study down the hall.
Detective Miller: We'll need to secure the decanter first for forensics testing.
Elena: Follow me, Detective. It's right in the butler's pantry.
They walked down the narrow service hallway toward the back kitchen.
When Elena opened the door to the pantry, she gasped.
The crystal decanter lay shattered inside the stainless steel sink, completely washed clean.