The distant sound of police sirens echoed down the long private driveway of the Dallas mansion, growing louder by the second.
Inside the wine cellar, the crowd of wealthy guests whispered among themselves, taking pictures on their phones while security kept Vanessa pinned against a wooden wine barrel.
Vanessa: My father's high-priced lawyers will destroy all of you for this! This is a false imprisonment lawsuit in the making!
Julian: Save your breath, Vanessa. The video evidence is already uploaded to a secure cloud server.
Vanessa: That video proves nothing! It doesn't show what the powder was! You have no chemical proof!
Clara: The spilled wine on the table still has the residue in it, Miss Vanessa. The police forensic team will test it the moment they arrive.
Vanessa's face went completely pale again. She looked down at the dark wooden table, where the white liquid was still pooling near the broken glass shards.
Vanessa: You... you smart little brat...
Julian: She's a lot smarter than you ever were, Vanessa. She actually has a conscience.
Heavy footsteps echoed on the white marble stairs leading down into the cellar. Three uniformed Dallas police officers hurried into the room, their handguns secured at their belts.
Officer Ramirez: We received a 911 call reporting an attempted poisoning at this address. Who is the property owner?
Julian: I am, Officer. I'm Julian Sterling. Thank you for arriving so quickly.
Officer Ramirez: What's the situation here, Mr. Sterling?
Julian: My fiancé, Vanessa Harrison, attempted to put a lethal dose of poison into my white wine glass during our estate gala.
Vanessa: He's lying, Officer! It's a setup! This server pushed me and spilled the drink to ruin our engagement party!
Officer Ramirez: Ma'am, quiet down. We will take statements from everyone in due order.
Julian handed his smartphone directly to Officer Ramirez, playing the video recording once more.
Julian: This footage was taken by my staff member, Clara. It clearly shows Vanessa pouring a white substance into my glass while my back was turned.
Officer Ramirez watched the phone screen intently, his brow furrowing as he noticed the emerald ring on the suspect's hand.
Officer Ramirez: Ma'am, hold out your left hand, please.
Vanessa: I don't have to show you anything without my attorney present!
Officer Ramirez: Show me your hand, ma'am.
The officer stepped forward, taking Vanessa's wrist and examining the massive emerald ring resting on her finger. It was an exact match to the video.
Officer Ramirez: The ring matches the video footage precisely. Officer Davis, secure the table area. Do not touch that spilled liquid until crime scene technicians arrive for sampling.
Officer Davis: Understood, Ramirez. Setting up evidence tape now.
Officer Ramirez: Vanessa Harrison, you are under arrest for attempted capital murder and felony assault. You have the right to remain silent.
Vanessa: Julian! Tell them to stop! You can't let them take me to jail! Think about our wedding! Think about our families' reputation!
Julian: The only thing I'm thinking about is how close I came to letting a killer inherit my father's estate.
The officers pulled Vanessa's arms behind her back, snapping heavy steel handcuffs around her wrists. She kicked her feet and screamed as they pulled her up the marble stairs toward the police cruiser waiting outside.
Julian: Officer Ramirez, I also want to press full physical assault charges against her for striking my employee.
Officer Ramirez: We noted the bruised mark on the young lady's cheek, sir. It will all be included in the official felony report.
Clara: Thank you, Officer.
Julian: Come on, Clara. Let's get you upstairs so the paramedics can look at your face and check your injury.