Chapter 3 - The Golden Key
The room became so cold that Claire’s breathing seemed to falter. She took a step back, her eyes darting toward her ornate mirrored vanity table across the room.
"Dom, she's delirious," Claire stammered, her voice rising in pitch. "She’s been locked in a dark room for three days. She doesn't know what she’s saying. Why would I lock her in the cellar? I’m about to marry you! I have everything I’ve ever wanted!"
Dominic didn't argue. He walked to the vanity table.
"Dom, stop! This is humiliating!" Claire cried, running after him.
He pulled open the top drawer. It was filled with diamond jewelry, expensive lipsticks, and silk scarves. He began tossing them onto the floor, one by one. Underneath a velvet tray, his fingers hit metal.
He pulled out a heavy, gold-plated key tied with a thin red velvet ribbon.
Dominic held it up. The gold caught the morning light coming through the window.
"Is this the key to the reserve cellar, Claire?" he asked.
"I... I don't know how that got there," she whispered, her face losing all its color. "Nathan must have put it there. He has access to our room. Dom, you have to believe me! Nathan is framing me! He’s been acting strange for weeks!"
Dominic walked toward her, the key dangling from his fingers. "Nathan has been my brother for seventeen years. He saved my life in Atlantic City. He helped me bury my wife."
"And he wants your empire!" Claire yelled, her tears finally breaking through. "He’s been setting this up! He told me Mia was stealing from the estate. He told me to buy the lock. I didn't know she was inside!"
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Dominic stopped inches from her. He reached out, his thumb gently wiping a tear from her cheek. His touch was cold.
"Nathan didn't put the key in your drawer, Claire," he said softly. "Because Nathan doesn't know about the secret compartment in that vanity. Only you do. I had it built for you."
