As the news was about to start, Lawrence grabbed a plate and placed some food there. He leaned back and started eating, while the maid place his coffee on the end table.
A female newscaster was then shown on the screen and behind her was a villa with a beautiful landscape. Lawrence can’t help but be impressed.
‘News Flash! Just this morning, a cleaner called the police station to report a murder. According to the informant, she arrived at this villa as part of her daily schedule. She has the key and has access to the main door and all the other rooms. As she’s used to no one being home early in the morning, she proceeds to open the master’s bedroom and was horrified by what she saw.
On the bed, a man was lying down, looking wasted, and next to her was a woman bathing in her blood. According to the police, the woman sustained 18 stab wounds on her neck, chest, and stomach. The man with her was taken to police custody for further investigation.
The police cannot give any information on the man, as according to them, he’s still a suspect. But the victim was identified as Vernice Williams, daughter of business tycoon Lawrence Williams.”
Lawrence’s hand gave way, causing the plate to fall on his lap with all the food in it. He can’t believe what he just heard.
“Sir, what’s going on?” The maid next to her asked, but he can’t force a sound out of his mouth. “What happened to Miss Vernice?”
The maid’s voice was shaking terribly while Lawrence remained mum. Minutes after the maid started screaming, calling Esme out.
The mistress of the house came out looking pissed. Her hair was a mess, her makeup was all over her face and she was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday.
“What are you fussing about? Didn’t you know I was sleeping?” she roared and the poor maid started crying. “Lawrence what is going on here?” she asked but didn’t get any response.
Lawrence was just there on the couch, sitting and unmoving. Esme suddenly felt nervous. Thinking that something happened to his husband, she quickly approached her and shook him on the shoulder.
When Lawrence faced her, she saw tears on his face and his lips were trembling. “What happened?”
“Let’s go to the police station.”
“What? Why?”
“Get ready, we’re leaving in five minutes.”

Without knowing what happened and why they were headed to the police station, Esme quickly moved to follow her husband’s instructions. Whatever it was, she’ll find out anyway.
“To the police station,” Lawrence told the driver before getting into the car, Esme followed suit.
When they reached the station, the Chief quickly approached him. He’s known to the entire city and so the Chief knew what’s the purpose of his visit.
They were led straight to the Chief’s office and were asked to sit down. “What happened?” he asked.
The Chief narrated everything and even showed them a copy of Tristan’s statement. In disbelief, Esme fainted.
The woman was out for almost twenty minutes and as soon as she gained consciousness, she started wailing. “What happened to my daughter?” her voice echoed inside the small room.
Lawrence coaxed her to calm down and she did. But even on their way to the hospital, she didn’t talk.
She started crying again inside the morgue when Vernice’s body was shown to them. After that, she was quiet on their who drive going home.
When they arrived, Esme went straight to their bedroom while Lawrence sat on the couch and turned the TV on. He wants to divert his attention as he too wasn’t feeling well after what happened.
The news, once again, flashed in and it was an update on the case. When they went to the station, the Chief told them that the CCTV recordings from the villa were still being investigated.
Now, on the news, they are releasing an update on who did the crime. It was none other than Joyce Blake.
Lawrence’s hand shook terribly. He even lost grip of the remote and when he picked it up, he threw it straight to the TV, cracking its screen.
He started sobbing and didn’t stop until his phone started ringing. It was a call from the morgue. He was being asked for their plans for their daughter’s body.
Not having an answer, he told the caller that he will have to talk to his wife first. After that, he headed to the bedroom to ask Esme.
The grieving mother requested the immediate cremation of her daughter’s body. Lawrence wanted to contradict but he chose not to. He understands Esme’s pain and he doesn’t want to add to that.
She went out of the room and called the crematorium to pick up her daughter’s body from the morgue. He’s planning to hold a mass later, but not with Esme most probably.
Meanwhile, at the De Clarion Villa, it was already night time but Belle was still crying. She just can’t stop after hearing what happened.
They were with me just last night. How did this happen?”
“Sshhh…” Tristan pulled her closer for a hug to comfort her. “I don’t know too…”
“What exactly happened?” Frederick asked.
Tristan let go of Belle, rested his elbows on his knees, and cupped his face. “I can’t really recall everything,” he started. “I was having a drink with Jacob last night at Eden. I was there because Belle’s meeting Vernice and I want to be there for her if something happens. Then a waiter served us our second round of drinks. The next thing was waking up at the small villa with Vernice lying dead next to me.”
“Does that mean someone put something in your drinks and you both blacked out?” John asked, switching glances between Tristan and his son.
“Yes!” and all their attention turned to Belle. “Last night, I heard Mrs. Williams talking to a waiter. She was asking him to slip something into someone’s drink. When the waiter asked where they are, she said they were in VIP 1.”
“So this was all Esme’s plan?”