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?"

perceptive, yet he had never

icy. "One needs to 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

Richard. "Richard, the Brooks family no longer welcomes you. Take your grandson and leave my house. As for Percival and Vivienne's

I don't buy it. Step out of line, and you'll find no place

not an idiot like Beatrice. Feel free to try, but thread lightly." Judith tossed her cane aside, adjusting her

help but laugh at the spectacle, looking at Judith like looking at an idiot. In the face

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

was sly.

confession with a triumphant glint in her

rage erupted.

threat of modern technology. She had believed their evidence insufficient but had not counted on

on a silver platter? This recording is all we need to bring you to

a kind and gentle lady. Plus, given the limited technology back then and the fact that Judith took extra

she insisted that Calista tutor Thaddeus.

there was something off about Judith, so they delved into

technology, digging up evidence

restore a key piece