Joseph and Brian held their breath, trying to remain completely silent in the darkness. From their hiding spot, they could clearly see everything happening around the stairwell. The faint light from the second-floor hallway cast long shadows on the floor below.The sound of footsteps continued to echo, each step pounding in their chests. Then, Tyler's figure appeared, slowly making his way up the stairs from the first to the second floor. In his hand, he held something, not too large in size but wrapped in a black cloth, making it difficult for anyone to discern what it was.A stack of documents, perhaps?Joseph and Brian watched intently, trying to gather every detail. Tyler showed no signs of haste; he moved with a suspicious calmness, as if he had complete control of the situation. When he reached the second floor, Tyler paused, looked ahead, and then continued up without the slightest hesitation.Joseph felt the tension inside him rising with every passing moment. There was someth
Joseph stood silently next to Charlotte, the initial horror gradually giving way to a sense of clarity. Though a storm of painful emotions churned inside him, he knew he couldn't let them overwhelm his reason at this moment. Something was off, and his instincts as someone experienced made him want to understand more about the cause of Charlotte's death.Joseph's gaze swept across Charlotte's body, now motionless on the cold floor. Blood had spread across the floor, soaking into her pristine white dress, creating a tragic scene. He knelt closer, his eyes carefully observing the color of her skin and the livor mortis that had already begun to appear.With his forensic knowledge, Joseph noticed that Charlotte's skin had turned a pale gray, with blood pooling beneath the skin, forming dark purple blotches in areas where the blood had settled. This gave him an important clue: Charlotte had been dead for at least 4 to 6 hours. A chill ran down Joseph's spine as he came to this conclusion, a
Charlotte lay motionless on the cold floor, her body still, and the pool of blood beneath her had already dried. The dim light from the room cast down on her pale, lifeless face, creating a heavy and terrifying atmosphere. The room was eerily silent, as if frozen in time, with only the faint sound of wind whistling through the crack in the window, disturbing the unnerving quiet.Suddenly, Charlotte's body twitched slightly. A barely noticeable, sudden movement, but it shattered the oppressive silence of the room. Her eyes, once tightly shut in death, abruptly opened wide, her dull eyes now filled with pain. Though devoid of life, somehow she opened her eyes as if pulled back from the brink of death by an unseen force.Charlotte’s throat convulsed, and suddenly, a dry retch escaped her mouth. Her hands instinctively gripped her neck, struggling to suppress something rising within her stomach. Her body convulsed in extreme agony, and soon after, she began to vomit violently, thick, blac
Coco hurried into the party, her eyes scanning the crowd anxiously as she searched for Joseph. She looked around frantically, her breath quickening as she walked swiftly past groups of guests engaged in conversation. Her gaze finally landed on Joseph, who stood near a corner of the room, his face tired and pensive. Coco approached him, unable to hide the worry in her eyes."Joseph!" Coco called softly, her voice a bit urgent. "Where have you been? I didn’t see you at all during the party."Joseph turned to face her, giving a faint smile but maintaining his calm demeanor. "I just stepped out for some personal business, nothing important," he said smoothly, though there was a subtle tension in his eyes that Coco couldn’t ignore.Coco frowned, the uneasy feeling in her heart growing stronger. "Personal business? Are you sure?" she asked gently, her voice full of concern. "I tried calling you several times, but you didn’t pick up. Is something wrong?"Joseph looked straight into Coco’s ey
The murmurs in the hall grew louder, and the once formal atmosphere of the party began to descend into chaos. Groups of guests gathered, whispering about the murder near the café. Faces were filled with anxiety, and eyes darted around, searching for an explanation.“Did you hear? The murder case,” a woman in a red dress turned to her companion, her voice trembling. “The killer hasn’t been caught yet, and the police have no leads.”“How terrifying! So close to here too, who would have thought something like this could happen in such a peaceful place,” her friend replied, nervously glancing around.People began to speculate about the murder, with theories spreading quickly and seemingly without end. Everyone presented their own assumptions, creating a tense atmosphere. Some suggested a family feud, while others thought it might be an act of revenge.“It could be robbery gone wrong… or maybe some kind of vendetta? I heard the victim was the mother of a wealthy CEO,” a man suggested.“But
Joseph stood amidst the lively atmosphere of the party, but his mind felt lost in a maze of confusion. He tried to piece together the fragments of the events, but the more he thought about it, the more complicated everything became. If Jayce wasn’t the one who killed Charlotte, and he wasn’t behind Mrs. Smith’s death either, then Jayce must be panicking. Two key pawns Jayce had planned to use to threaten him had mysteriously vanished. So, who was behind all of this?Joseph couldn’t stop asking himself questions. “Is there someone silently helping me, or do they have a bigger agenda?” The appearance of a third force in this game could completely change the outcome. This made him uneasy. If someone was helping him, why would they choose such a method? And if they had ulterior motives, was he becoming a pawn in their hands?Looking over at Jayce, Joseph noticed that although Jayce outwardly appeared calm, he was likely in turmoil inside. Coco approached him, her eyes filled with concer
Coco slowly guided Joseph back to his room, each of their steps heavy like the tense atmosphere surrounding them. Joseph was still somewhat intoxicated, but he maintained a calm demeanor, occasionally nodding to the staff they passed along the way. His eyes were fixed ahead, but his mind was swirling with chaotic thoughts about everything that had just happened. Coco walked beside him silently, holding his arm securely, her eyes betraying her concern.At last, the door to the room appeared before them. Coco gently opened it and helped Joseph inside, closing it behind them. As soon as the door shut, the atmosphere in the room changed completely. Outside, the noise and bustle of the party still lingered, but inside, there was only an eerie silence. Faint light filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room.Joseph turned on the light, a soft golden glow spilling throughout the space. Suddenly, he pushed Coco away, surprising her. He didn’t say a word, instead quietl
Joseph nodded slightly, not showing any emotion. "Charlotte is still safe, right?" Joseph asked, his voice calm, but his eyes intently watching Coco's reaction. This was his way of probing her, not about Charlotte, but for any sign that she knew or was involved in the death. Coco abruptly lifted her head, her eyes filled with anger. "What are you talking about, Joseph? Why would you ask me that? Do you think I don't care about Charlotte?" The anger in Coco's voice made Joseph realize he had touched on something sensitive. But what was she angry about? Because he suspected her, or because she really had something to hide? "I meant no harm, Coco," Joseph replied, trying to calm the situation. "I just want to make sure everything is okay... between us and with Charlotte." But he knew his words wouldn't soothe her anger. Coco stood up abruptly, her eyes full of frustration and rage. "Joseph, what kind of person do you think I am? I've always been by your side, helping you th