Chapter 2 - The Security Footage
The revelation hit the room like a physical blow. Charlotte gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, while Victoria stumbled backward, her high heels clicking frantically against the marble until she hit the back of a velvet sofa.
"Security cameras?" Victoria stammered, her voice cracking with rising panic. "You... you spied on my private home?"
"I protect my interests, Mrs. Collins," Alexander replied smoothly, pulling a sleek tablet from his inner jacket pocket. With a flick of his thumb, he tapped the screen, and instantly, a high-definition video began to play on the device's display, turned outward for the entire room to see.
There, glowing in the soft light of the grand living room, was crystal-clear footage from earlier that afternoon. It showed Victoria aggressively shoving a heavy bucket of soapy water toward Samantha, screaming orders, while Olivia laughed and kicked dirty water near Samantha's shins. The audio was pristine, capturing every harsh insult, every cruel laugh, and every moment of Samantha's silent, crushing endurance.
Charlotte stared at the tablet in absolute horror. "Where... how did you get that?"
"Your security system uses an outdated cloud router with standard factory encryption," one of Alexander’s towering bodyguards spoke up from the doorway, his voice flat and robotic. "It took my team four seconds to mirror the feed."
Alexander slipped the tablet back into his pocket, his gaze returning to Samantha, who stood frozen, tears finally spilling over her eyelashes and cutting clean paths down her soap-speckled cheeks. She had spent years hiding her misery, praying that someday someone would see her pain. And now, the most feared billionaire in America was broadcasting her abuse to the very people who inflicted it.
"Samantha," Alexander said softly, his voice shifting from executive coldness to a startling gentleness. "What is your full name?"
"Samantha... Samantha Collins," she managed to choke out, wiping her wet hand across her apron.
"No," Alexander corrected gently, shaking his head. "You are a Collins by blood, perhaps, but tonight, this house no longer deserves you."
He turned back to face Victoria, who looked like she was about to faint. The high-society facade was completely shattered. The golden mirrors and crystal chandeliers suddenly felt like props in a tragic play, illuminating the utter ugliness of their true characters.
"You wanted a billionaire in your family, Mrs. Collins?" Alexander asked, stepping away from the sink and standing side-by-side with Samantha. "You wanted a wedding that would elevate your status in California high society?"
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Victoria nodded frantically, desperate to salvage any shred of hope. "Yes! Yes, Alexander, Olivia and Charlotte are educated, refined—"
"They are poison wrapped in silk," Alexander cut her off mercilessly. "And your masterclass in cruelty is over. Pack your bags, Mrs. Collins. You have seventy-two hours before my legal team forecloses on every single mortgage, trust, and asset holding tied to this mansion."
