As the Smith empire crumbles into dust, a flickering CCTV frame changes everything. A mysterious figure in the dark, a swapped set of clothes, and a stolen locket—the puzzle of that horrific night is finally coming together. But as the police stare at the grainy footage, a terrifying question remains: Was David the mastermind, or is someone else wearing his shadow?
Elina had begun to consider Jack a very dear friend, but erasing David from her heart felt impossible. Every time she remembered the night of the assault, she cursed herself, wondering how she could have ever loved someone so vile.
The police called Elina with an update. "Whoever did this must have left some trace in that guest room. Our team will return tomorrow morning for a more thorough investigation."
"Yes, please," Elina replied firmly. "I want the culprit punished as soon as possible." After hanging up, she sat in silence, convinced she could never forgive David for what he had done.
Meanwhile, Mr. Louis stayed true to his word and canceled every deal with the Smith industries. The financial blow was catastrophic. The Smith family's situation grew so dire that their ancestral mansion was put up for auction.
As the date for Elina and Jack's wedding was finalized, David seemed to be losing his mind. The police investigation revealed that David had indeed paid a waiter to slip a sedative into Elina's drink. However, in his haste, the waiter had dropped the vial, and the powder spilled onto the floor. He had served Elina the drink without the sedative.
The question remained: What was the substance David tried to use, and what was his ultimate goal?
When the Smith mansion went under the hammer, Elina arrived at the auction and placed the highest bids. In the end, the entire Smith house belonged to her. David's mother and grandmother, once so proud, now fell at Elina's feet, begging her to let them stay for just a few days until they could find another place.
"Fine," Elina said coldly. "You may stay here until my wedding day. After that, I want you out within a minute."
David's entire family, including his friend Nikhil, was present. David stood there, silent and broken. As a tear fell from his eye and hit the ground, Elina walked up to him. "For a man as disgusting as you, even a death sentence wouldn't be enough." With those biting words, she turned and went to her room.
David could no longer endure the weight of her accusations. In the middle of the night, he climbed up to Elina's balcony and slipped into her room. When Elina woke up and saw him, she prepared to scream, but David quickly stopped her.
"I know you hate me," he whispered, "but I swear I didn't do this. If you don't believe me, then take this." He pressed a knife into her hand.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" Elina asked, startled.
End it," David replied. "Give me the death penalty yourself. Dying by your hand is better than living with your hatred. I can't survive this loathing."
Elina let out a cold laugh. "You're quite the actor, aren't you? Have you no shame? You betrayed a girl who trusted you enough to marry you. You stole her dignity, and now you're staying in her house like a shameless beggar, breaking into her room at night to put on this show."
David tried to pull her into a hug, whispering, "I love you so much, Elina."
She shoved him away with all her strength. Just then, they heard the loud crash of a flower vase outside the door. Elina rushed out of the room. In the shadows of the hallway, she saw a male figure heading toward the guest room.
"Who's there?" she shouted. "What are you doing near the guest room at this hour?"
Before she could finish, the figure vanished into the darkness. David reached her side a moment later, but the person was already gone.
"It wasn't me," David said urgently. "I think that was the person who actually did it. He came back to the guest room to destroy some evidence he must have left behind."
For the first time, doubt flickered in Elina's mind. "Does that mean... it really wasn't you? Is the real criminal someone else?" she stammered.
The commotion woke the entire household, and everyone gathered in the dining room.
The next morning, the police conducted another sweep of the house. This time, they discovered a hidden CCTV camera inside the guest room. While David discussed the situation with Nikhil, trying to figure out who could have committed such a crime, the police called the family together to view the footage.
The video started. It showed David handing money and a vial to the waiter. Then, the party scene appeared. Suddenly, the lights went out. In those two seconds of darkness, a figure was seen running up the stairs and cutting the power to the upper floor.
The figure then went straight to David and Elina's room and emerged a few moments later—having changed his clothes. The person, now dressed in David's clothes, entered the guest room.
The footage showed the waiter offering Elina a drink. After consuming it, Elina headed toward her room but stopped when she heard a noise coming from the guest room. As she entered, she encountered the man. Before she could speak, he attacked. Because the lights were off, his face remained a shadow, but as he left, the camera caught him ripping the heart-shaped chain from Elina's neck.
The footage ended there. The police remained confused—the man was wearing David's clothes, but was it actually David?
Will Elina finally discover the identity of the man in the shadows? Can David prove his innocence to the police, or is he being framed by a master manipulator? And whose face is hidden behind the darkness?
To find the answers, keep reading "Beneath The Truth," only on Webnovel.