Sarah sat alone in her dimly lit bedroom, her hands curled into fists. Everything was slipping away.
Moris no longer looked at her with admiration. Isabel had survived, and now Moris was questioning her. The staff whispered about her behind her back. Even Duke, that wretched dog, watched her with those sharp, knowing eyes.
She had worked too hard to let it all crumble.
Sarah took a deep breath and forced herself to think clearly.
Isabel had to go. Not just out of Moris' life—but permanently.
She reached for her phone and dialed a number. It rang twice before a gruff voice answered.
"You still handle… discreet matters?" she asked, keeping her voice low.
The man on the other end chuckled darkly. "Depends on the price."
Sarah's fingers tightened around the phone. "Money isn't an issue."
A pause. "Who's the target?"
She smiled, a slow, cold smile. "Isabel Carter."
Isabel's Doubts
Meanwhile, Isabel sat in Moris' office, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Though she was recovering, the events of the night still haunted her.
"I know it was Sarah," she said quietly. "You know it too."
Moris stood by the window, arms crossed. He had spent the entire night thinking, replaying every detail, every interaction, every warning sign he had ignored.
"I do," he admitted finally. "But proving it is another thing."
Isabel's grip on the blanket tightened. "She's dangerous, Moris. She won't stop."
Moris turned to face her, his expression troubled. "What do you want me to do? Throw her out without evidence? The moment I accuse her, she'll twist everything."
Isabel hesitated, then nodded. He was right. Sarah was manipulative, always playing the victim.
Then she thought of something.
"Duke," she said.
Moris frowned. "What about him?"
"He already senses Sarah's true nature. Animals have instincts we don't. If we use that to our advantage, maybe we can get her to expose herself."
Moris considered this. "How?"
Isabel smiled faintly. "By giving her what she wants—your attention. Let her think she's winning. She'll drop her guard, and when she does, we'll be ready."
Moris exhaled slowly. "You're asking me to play a dangerous game."
Isabel met his gaze. "It's the only way to end this."
After a long pause, Moris nodded.
"Let's do it."
A Deadly Order
Sarah met with the man she had hired in a secluded parking lot later that night. He was tall, burly, and wore a leather jacket that smelled of cigarettes. His eyes were sharp, unreadable.
"You sure about this?" he asked. "Ain't no turning back once I start."
Sarah handed him a thick envelope of cash. "Make it look like an accident."
The man smirked. "Accidents happen all the time."
As Sarah walked away, her heart pounded with anticipation.
By this time tomorrow, Isabel Carter would be gone—and Moris would finally be hers.
Or so she thought.