Dante narrowed his eyes. “Explain.”
“That ring isn’t symbolic.”
“Nothing in Roman’s world is symbolic.”
Evelyn looked genuinely afraid for the first time that night.
“The sapphire is hollow.”
Dante’s expression changed.
Inside the ring,” she whispered, “is a poison capsule.”
PART 4 — THE WOMAN IN RED COLLAPSED FIRST
The ballroom had transformed by the time they returned.
The orchestra was silent.
Security guards blocked the exits.
Guests clustered together in frightened circles while hotel staff whispered into radios.
And at the center of the marble floor lay Vanessa.
The red dress spread around her like spilled wine.
Roman knelt beside her.
Not grieving.
Watching.
As if trying to understand how his own game had turned against him.
The sapphire ring still sat on Vanessa’s finger.
But blood trickled slowly from beneath the stone.
Evelyn stopped breathing.
Dante moved slightly in front of her instinctively.
Roman looked up.
Their eyes met across the ballroom.
For one dangerous second, nobody else existed.
Then Roman rose to his feet.
The room parted for him automatically.
“Evelyn,” he said calmly.
Too calmly.
“You came back.”
“She needs a hospital,” Evelyn snapped.
Roman’s gaze flickered toward Vanessa.
“She’s already dead.”
A woman near the bar gasped.
Someone began crying quietly.
But Roman never looked away from Evelyn.
“Interesting timing, isn’t it?” he continued. “You hand her the ring. Minutes later, she collapses.”
The accusation settled heavily over the room.
Phones disappeared beneath tables.
People suddenly remembered appointments elsewhere.
Evelyn stepped forward.
“You put poison inside that ring.”
A ripple of shock spread through the crowd.
Roman smiled.
“Careful.”
“You killed her.”
“No,” Roman said softly. “You did.”
Two police detectives entered the ballroom at that exact moment.
Evelyn froze.
Roman had arranged this.
Of course he had.
The detectives approached slowly.
“Mrs. Castellano,” one began.
“Moretti,” Dante interrupted sharply.
The detective glanced at him with visible discomfort.
Dante Vale had that effect on people.
Roman folded his hands behind his back.
“My wife has been emotionally unstable recently,” he said smoothly. “I’d hate for grief to cloud everyone’s judgment.”
Evelyn stared at him.
This was the real Roman.
Not the polished billionaire.
Not the charming husband.
This one.
The man who could turn murder into theater.
Then something unexpected happened.
Vanessa moved.
The entire ballroom recoiled.
A weak breath escaped her lips.
Roman’s face lost color.
For the first time all evening, genuine panic appeared.
Vanessa’s trembling hand rose slightly.
And pointed.
Not at Evelyn.
At Roman.
“Y-you…” she whispered.
Then her eyes rolled back.
Chaos exploded.
Guests screamed.
Detectives rushed forward.
Paramedics burst through the ballroom doors.
And in the confusion, Dante grabbed Evelyn’s wrist.
“Move.”
They disappeared through the service corridor just as Roman shouted behind them.
“DON’T LET THEM LEAVE!”
PART 5 — DANTE VALE KNEW THE SECRET ROMAN WOULD KILL TO HIDE
Rain hammered against the windows of Dante’s penthouse while Evelyn paced the living room.
“She accused him,” Evelyn whispered.
Dante stood near the fireplace, removing his gloves slowly.
“She survived long enough to.”
Evelyn stopped pacing.
“Roman’s going to blame me anyway.”
“He already has.”
Dante crossed the room and tossed a folder onto the table.
Inside were photographs.
Bank statements.
Shipping manifests.
Private security records.