Chapter 1: The Woman Over the Edge
Victoria pushed Evelyn.
There was no warning. No argument anyone could later claim to have misunderstood. One moment, the elderly woman in the beige dress was standing beside the rooftop terrace railing. The next, the bride in white drove both hands into her shoulders.
Evelyn stumbled backward.
Her heels scraped against the polished stone. Her hands flew into the air, searching for something solid.
Then her body tipped over the railing.
“Hold on!””
Rose dropped the silver serving tray.
Champagne glasses shattered across the rooftop as she sprinted toward the edge. She threw herself onto the ground and caught Evelyn by both forearms.
The impact nearly pulled Rose over with her.
“Miss Evelyn! Don't let go!””
Evelyn screamed.
Below them, the city lights glittered several stories beneath the terrace. A cold wind swept through Rose's hair, and the old woman's fingers slipped against her skin.
“Rose!”” Evelyn cried.
“Please!””
“Look at me!”” Rose shouted.
“I'm not letting you fall!””
She tightened her grip, digging her shoes against the stone tiles. Her elbows burned. Her shoulders felt as though they were being pulled from their sockets.
Behind her, guests began screaming.
Someone dropped a champagne bottle. A violinist stopped playing halfway through a song.
Victoria stood several feet away, motionless.
Her white wedding dress shimmered beneath the rooftop lights.
“Somebody help her!”” a guest yelled.
Rose didn't look back.
“Get over here!”” she screamed.
“Now!””
Two security guards finally rushed forward. One grabbed Rose around the waist while the other caught Evelyn beneath the arms.
Together, they pulled.
Evelyn's upper body came over the railing first. Then her legs cleared the edge.
Within seconds, she was entirely back on the terrace.
The guards lowered her carefully onto the floor.
Rose collapsed beside her, breathing hard, her palms scraped and bleeding.
Evelyn clutched her chest.
“Are you hurt?”” Rose asked.
Evelyn shook her head, struggling to catch her breath.
Then she looked toward the man standing near the wedding arch.
“Daniel!””
Daniel Whitmore, the groom, pushed through the gathering guests.
“Mom? What happened?””
Evelyn grabbed his wrist.
“Victoria pushed me! She tried to kill me!””
A wave of shocked whispers spread through the rooftop.
Daniel stared at his mother.
“What?””
“I was standing right here,” Evelyn said, pointing toward the railing.
“Your bride pushed me!””
Victoria immediately stepped forward.
Her expression changed so quickly that Rose almost couldn't follow it.
The frightened bride disappeared.
In her place stood a woman with trembling lips and tears gathering in her eyes.
“The maid did it!”” Victoria cried, pointing directly at Rose.
Everyone turned.
Rose slowly rose from the floor.
“What?””
Victoria took Daniel's arm.
“Daniel, I saw her grab your mother! She was standing behind Evelyn. She pushed her!””
“That is a lie,” Rose said.
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
“Excuse me?””
“You pushed her. I caught her.””
Victoria let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
“Listen to yourself. You're a maid. You're trying to save your job by inventing a story.””
“I don't care about my job!””
“Then why are you lying?””
Rose looked at Daniel.
“Sir, I was serving drinks when I saw—”
“Don't interrupt me!”” Victoria snapped.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice so only Rose could hear.
“You're just a maid. Nobody will believe you.””
Rose stared at her.
Victoria adjusted the diamond bracelet around her wrist, then turned back toward Daniel with tears in her eyes.
“Your mother has been suspicious of me from the beginning. She never wanted this marriage. Now she's using that poor woman to destroy our wedding.””
Evelyn tried to sit up.
“Victoria, stop pretending!””
Daniel raised one hand.
“Enough!””
The rooftop fell silent.
He looked at the two security guards.
“The footage. Now.””
One guard immediately reached for his radio.
“Yes, sir.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Every camera covering this terrace. I want the recording.””
The guard hesitated.
“There's one problem, sir.””
“What problem?””
“The new camera was installed yesterday.””
Daniel frowned.
“And?””
The guard glanced toward the ceiling.
“It hasn't been connected to the main security system yet.””
For the first time, Victoria stopped crying.
Her eyes moved upward.
A small black camera was mounted beneath the rooftop canopy, directly above the section of railing where Evelyn had fallen.
Victoria stared at it.
Then she slowly turned back toward Daniel.
Rose noticed.
And so did Evelyn.
But before anyone could speak, Evelyn reached out and caught Rose's hand.
Her fingers were trembling.
“Wait,” Evelyn whispered.
Rose knelt beside her.
“Are you feeling dizzy, Mrs. Whitmore?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
Instead, she studied Rose's face.
Her eyes moved from Rose's forehead to her nose, then to the small crescent-shaped scar near her left eyebrow.
“What's your mother's name?”” Evelyn asked.
Rose blinked.
“Why?””
“Tell me.””
“Grace Carter.””
Evelyn's fingers tightened around hers.
“Grace Carter's your mother?””
Rose swallowed.
“Yes.””
Evelyn's face went pale.
For several seconds, she seemed unable to breathe.
Then she whispered four words that made Rose's entire world stop.
“She survived the fire.””
Rose's mouth opened.
No sound came out.
“What fire?””
Evelyn looked at her, tears gathering in her eyes.
Rose slowly turned toward the camera.
Then she looked directly into the lens.
May you like
“Where's my mother? Watch part two below.””
And somewhere behind her, Victoria quietly stepped away from the railing.
