The Million-Dollar Heart

As soon as Judith's venomous confession left her lips, the Brooks family was struck dumb. A stunned silence filled the room, broken only by the clock ticking against the mahogany walls. No one could have imagined that Judith, the seemingly gentle and kind-hearted matron of the Brooks family, harbored such darkness in her soul.

Murder, born from the seeds of jealousy? And not just one, but ten lives snuffed out?

Baron, shaking with a barely contained rage, erupted. "You! You vile woman! Dahlia always treated you like a friend, and this is how you repay her!"

Judith's twisted sneer was like a knife. "Friend? My dear Baron, I played the doting friend just to witness her fall from grace. It's a pity, though..."

Her gaze shifted to Richard, her lips curling into a self-mocking smile. "Richard loved her too much. No matter my plots, he always stood by Dahlia, even when I drugged her, never once did he doubt her fidelity!"

She turned back to Baron, her eyes glinting with malice. "See? This is why she chose him over you. You would've never trusted her if you had been in his shoes."

Baron growled, "Bullshit! Dahlia was flawless in my eyes. I would always stand by her, no matter what."

Judith's laugh was a bitter sound that cut through the room. "After all these years, I've toiled for this family, yet your heart never held a place for me. Even now, you sing Dahlia's praises. But what good does that do? She's dead! I burned her beyond recognition. And her friends? They're gone, too, casualties of her downfall. Ha!"

Her laughter devolved into unhinged cackles. "You're here to settle scores? To what end? Your so-called evidence can't pin anything on me. Even knowing I'm the murderer, you're powerless, Baron. Your hatred changes nothing. You'll still have to face me every day."

"You!" Baron, furious, swung at her, but Judith caught his wrist with a strength that belied her appearance. "You think I'm helpless? If not for my love for you, the things you've done to me would have sealed your fate ten times over!"

With a swift movement, she threw Baron to the ground.

Ronald, close by, rushed to help Baron back to his feet. As Baron stood, he looked at Judith in shock. "You know how to fight?"

not lost on him. He had prided himself on being perceptive, yet he

know a little self-defense in the Brooks family or be left to wither. Since you despise me so, from now on, you'll stay put in this house. If you're to die, you'll die looking

only a dismissive glance from Judith as she turned to Richard. "Richard, the Brooks family no longer welcomes you. Take your grandson and leave my

father, but I don't buy it. Step out of line, and you'll find no place in the Brooks family. But since you're now carrying a

an idiot like Beatrice. Feel free to try, but thread lightly." Judith tossed her cane aside, adjusting her hair with an air of finality. "I've

looking at an idiot. In the face of her unraveling, Judith's

hands in his pockets, raised an eyebrow. "Vivienne, got

smile was sly. "Every

Judith's confession with a triumphant

erupted. "You

guard down, her rage toward Baron blinding her to the threat of modern technology. She had believed their

on a silver platter? This recording is all we need to bring you to justice. Looks like your little fantasy is

years ago was difficult. Back then, Percival was still young, and he had mistaken Judith for a kind and gentle lady. Plus, given the limited technology back then and the fact that Judith took extra caution in cleaning her tracks, no one ever

she insisted that Calista tutor Thaddeus. It

always felt there was something off about Judith, so they delved into a

evidence from years

managed to restore a key piece of evidence - a phone call