Chapter 58: The First Domino Falls

Sunday morning arrived with a quiet calm that wrapped the Wilson Estate in golden light. The air smelled faintly of jasmine from the garden, and the rhythmic scratch of pencil against paper filled the studio. Mindy sat by the wide window, sketching designs for the Maxine Portfolio. Her desk was scattered with fabric swatches, color palettes, and sheets of tracing paper layered with intricate silhouettes.

Her focus was absolute—until her phone buzzed.

She glanced at the caller ID and smiled. Adam Gray.

The name alone carried a strange satisfaction. It had been a while since she last heard from him. The last time they spoke, he was still recovering from the poisoning that had left him in a wheelchair. She had helped him once, during Bright’s competition, and since then, they had maintained a quiet, mutual respect. She answered immediately, her tone light and polite. "Good morning, Mr. Gray."

Adam’s voice came through, calm but edged with something sharp. "Turn on your TV."

Mindy blinked. "What?"

"Turn it on," he repeated. "Channel Seven. Watch the news."

Her brows furrowed slightly, but she didn’t question him further. "Hold on," she said, rising from her chair. Still holding the phone to her ear, she walked into the living room, where Layla was lounging on the sofa with a cup of coffee and her tablet.

"What’s wrong?" Layla asked, looking up.

"No idea," Mindy replied, shrugging as she picked up the remote. She turned on the television, and the screen immediately filled with flashing red banners and the urgent voice of a news anchor.

Breaking News: Jodey Hale Caught Cheating with Bodyguard!

Mindy’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Layla nearly dropped her coffee. On the screen, reporters swarmed outside a luxury hotel, their cameras flashing like lightning as they shouted questions into the chaos.

The footage cut abruptly to a shaky video taken inside a hotel room. The image was grainy but clear enough to reveal two figures caught mid-panic—Jodey Hale, Adam Gray’s fiancée, and Ethan, his personal bodyguard.

Both were half-naked, scrambling to cover themselves with sheets as journalists and hotel security burst through the door. The scene was pure chaos, and the entire nation was watching.

The reporter’s voiceover filled the room. "According to eyewitnesses, one of our junior journalists recognized Miss Jodey Hale entering the hotel with a man believed to be Mr. Adam Gray’s bodyguard.

Finding the situation suspicious, our team remained on-site and later obtained assistance from hotel management. What happened next is what you’re seeing now."

Layla gasped. "Oh my God..."

Mindy’s lips parted in disbelief before curving into a slow, amused smile. Still holding the phone, she asked, "You planned this?"

Adam’s voice was smooth, almost amused. "Who else?"

Mindy shook her head, laughing softly. "You’re ruthless, Mr. Gray. I love it."

"Keep watching," Adam said, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction. "It’s not finished yet."

Mindy leaned against the sofa, intrigued. On-screen, the reporter now stood beside the hotel manager, microphone in hand. "Sir, is Miss Hale a regular guest here?"

The manager hesitated, glancing nervously at the camera before sighing. "Yes," he admitted. "They’ve been coming here for quite some time."

The crowd erupted in murmurs. Jodey’s face turned deathly pale. Gone was the elegant, composed socialite the public adored. In her place stood a woman unraveling before the world’s eyes.

"You’re lying!" she screamed.

"This is someone’s trap! I’m innocent!"

Her voice cracked.

Tears streamed down her face.

She looked fragile.

Pitiful.

Almost believable.

Almost.

Another reporter quickly asked,

"Who books the rooms?"

The manager replied without hesitation.

"They’re always booked under Mr. Ethan’s name."

"And Miss Hale always pays in cash."

The moment those words fell...

Jodey’s expression froze.

"What?"

She looked at Ethan in complete disbelief.

Ethan was equally stunned.

His brows knitted together.

"What did he just say?"

Jodey immediately pointed at the manager.

"You’re lying!"

"I never booked anything under Ethan’s name!"

The manager looked offended.

"Miss Hale, I recognize my regular customers."

"I’ve checked you in many times."

"There is no mistake."

Jodey’s heartbeat accelerated.

Impossible.

She had always booked the rooms under different fake identities.

How could they suddenly become Ethan’s name?

Before she could think further—

Ethan’s face darkened.

"So..."

"You used my name?"

Jodey turned toward him.

"No!"

"I didn’t!"

"He is lying!"

"You have to believe me!"

Ethan clenched his fists.

"You told me everything was untraceable."

"You said nobody could ever find us."

Jodey became frantic.

"I swear I never used your name!"

"I don’t know why he’s saying this!"

The manager shook his head.

"I have no reason to lie."

The surrounding reporters immediately began whispering.

"Was she planning to sacrifice him if they were caught?"

"I knew something felt strange..."

Those words...

Were like poison.

They entered Ethan’s ears one by one.

His expression slowly twisted.

He looked at Jodey as though seeing her for the first time.

"So..."

"I was your backup plan?"

"If something happened..."

"I would be the one taking the blame?"

Jodey’s eyes widened.

"No!"

"Ethan, listen to me!"

"I never—"

"You liar!"

Ethan roared.

"You’ve been using me from the beginning!"

Jodey panicked.

"I haven’t!"

"Someone set us up!"

"You know I love you!"

Ethan laughed bitterly.

"Love?"

"You call this love?"

"If you loved me..."

"Why would every room suddenly be under my name?"

Everything that had happened—the accusations, the cameras, the growing crowd—pushed Ethan closer to the edge of his restraint. His face twisted with rage as he pointed at Jodey.

"You wanted me to take the blame!"

Jodey stared at him in disbelief.

"What?"

"You heard me!" Ethan shouted. "You planned to make me the scapegoat!"

"No, I didn’t!"

"You idiot!" she snarled. "Can’t you see what’s happening? We’re being framed!"

"Framed?" Ethan’s voice rose sharply. "This entire mess is your plan!"

"Don’t pretend you had nothing to do with it!"

"You were the one who dragged me into this!"

"And you were the one who seduced me!" Ethan screamed. "Now you’re trying to put everything on me?"

"Shut up!" Jodey snapped.

"Why should I?" he shot back. "You planned everything! You were the one who wanted Mr. Gray dead!"

The words echoed through the room, the entire room fell silent.

Several reporters turned toward them, their cameras lifting higher.

Jodey’s expression darkened.

"Watch your mouth."

"No!" Ethan continued, too angry and frightened to stop. "You planned to kill Adam Gray! You arranged everything, and now you’re trying to make me pay for it!"

"You bought the poison yourself!"

The moment the words escaped from Jodey’s mouth...

Everything stopped.

Jodey covered her mouth in horror.

Ethan’s pupils shrank.

"What did you just say?"

Jodey frantically shook her head.

"No..."

"I..."

"I didn’t mean..."

Ethan completely lost his composure.

"So now you’re blaming me?"

"You were the one who kept telling me Mr. Gray wouldn’t survive much longer!"

"You were the one mixing that poison into his food!"

Jodey’s face drained of blood.

"It wasn’t just me!"

"You changed the medicine too!"

"You said no one could detect it!"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The reporters stared at the two of them.

One journalist whispered,

"...Did they just confess to poisoning Adam Gray?"

Before either of them could recover—

Police sirens echoed outside.

Within seconds, officers rushed into the hotel.

"Miss Jodey Hale."

"Mr. Ethan..."

"You are both being taken in for questioning regarding the attempted murder of Mr. Adam Gray."

As the handcuffs clicked shut...

Neither of them looked at the police.

They only glared at each other.

The trust they had built over years...

Had collapsed in less than five minutes.

Gasps filled the air. The reporters forgot to breathe. Then, as if on cue, police officers pushed through the crowd, their voices cutting through the chaos. The cameras never stopped rolling.

The footage cut back to the anchor, who looked visibly shaken. "Authorities have confirmed that both Miss Hale and Mr. Ethan are being taken in for questioning regarding the attempted murder of Adam Gray. This is a developing story."

The screen faded to commercial.

For a moment, the villa was silent. Layla stared at the television, speechless. Mindy blinked once, twice, then turned back to the phone. "You... drugged them?" she asked slowly.

Adam’s laugh was soft, almost indulgent. "They aren’t the only ones who can drug people."

Mindy covered her mouth, laughing.

"You bribed the hotel manager."

"You planted the journalist."

"You called the police before it even happened."

It wasn’t a question.

Adam paused. Then laughed.

"You really are terrifying."

"You figured it all out."

"Yes," he admitted.

"I planned everything."

Mindy shook her head in admiration.

"Serves them right."

Her tone softened slightly. "How’s your recovery?"

Adam’s voice lightened. "Much better. I still can’t walk, but I will. Just like you said."

Mindy smiled genuinely. "I’m glad."

There was a brief pause before she asked, "So, they’ll go to prison?"

Adam chuckled darkly. "You think I’d stop there? They poisoned me. I lost my legs. They’ll lose theirs."

Mindy didn’t flinch. She didn’t pity them. People who destroyed others for greed didn’t deserve mercy. "People like them," she said quietly, "should never be allowed to walk away unpunished."

"Exactly," Adam replied. "You understand."

She sighed softly. "Get well soon, Mr. Gray. And if you need anything—"

Adam interrupted her gently. "I should be saying that. If you ever need my help, just ask."

Mindy laughed. "Don’t worry. I won’t be shy."

"Good," he said, his tone softening. "I’ll see you soon."

The call ended.

Mindy stood before the television for a moment, listening to the faint hum of the broadcast in the quiet villa.

The footage replayed across the screen: Jodey’s tear-streaked face, Ethan’s furious outburst, and the reporters’ shocked expressions as the two of them exposed their own crimes.

Mindy watched without blinking.

Her expression remained calm, almost detached.

"This lifetime," she murmured, "everyone will get exactly what they deserve."

She reached for the remote and turned off the television. The sudden silence felt heavier than the noise that had filled the room moments earlier.