Chapter 265: Unmasking the Viper

Chapter 265: Unmasking the Viper
Elena's POV

I didn't hesitate once I discovered the mastermind behind the plot. With a firm grip on his arm, I marched the trembling waiter straight to Augustus Montagues.

"Mr. Montagues," I said calmly, positioning the waiter in front of the family patriarch. "I've found the person who tried to poison me."

The waiter immediately collapsed to his knees, terror etched across his features. "Please, I'm sorry! I was just following orders!"

Augustus's expression darkened as he rose from his chair, his imposing figure casting a shadow over the cowering man. "What is the meaning of this?"

I met his gaze directly. "This waiter has admitted that Anna instructed him to put poison in my champagne."

Augustus's face remained stoic, but I caught the disbelief flickering in his eyes. After a long pause, he spoke quietly: "Bring Anna here."

While we waited, Augustus paced the room, his shoulders tense with barely contained fury.

Minutes later, the double doors swung open. Two security guards escorted Anna into the room. Her initial confusion quickly gave way to shock when she saw the bloodied waiter kneeling on the floor.

"Grandfather?" she asked, her voice uncharacteristically small. "What's happening?"

Augustus didn't answer. Instead, he strode forward and delivered a brutal kick to the waiter's ribs. "Speak," he commanded.

The waiter yelped in pain, curling in on himself before stammering, "It—it was Miss Anna. She told me to put something in Ms. Huntington's drink."

Anna's face drained of color. "That's absurd! I never poisoned her!" She whirled toward the waiter, her eyes wide with indignation. "You're saying I told you to poison her? Who put you up to this?"

The waiter looked genuinely confused. "It was you, Miss! Don't you remember?"

"Bullshit!" Anna spat, her composure cracking. "I've never even seen you before! How could I possibly have hired you?!"

The waiter's hands trembled as he pulled out his phone. "You were furious that Mr. Montagues favored Ms. Huntington and paid me to do it! Look for yourself!"

Anna snatched the phone from his hands, her eyes frantically scanning the screen. As she processed what she was seeing, her face grew increasingly pale.

Augustus took the phone from her unresisting fingers, examining it alongside me. There on the screen was undeniable evidence: bank transfers from Anna's account to the waiter's, along with incriminating text messages.

Anna stood frozen, trembling visibly.

I turned to Augustus. "According to our agreement, since Anna tried to poison me, she should face consequences under my terms."

Anna's head snapped up. "Grandfather! I didn't do this! Please believe me!"

Augustus sighed heavily. "She is my granddaughter... I hope you might spare her life. Perhaps the Montagues family's resources could serve as compensation..."

"So," I asked, "the Montagues family's resources are more valuable than a human life?"

Augustus remained silent, his expression complex.

I nodded slightly. "Very well. For your sake."

Anna's face turned ashen as my security personnel led her away. Augustus retained the waiter for his own questioning.

I then escorted Anna to the isolation room in the Montagues estate.

"I don't want to dirty my hands with your blood," I said coldly. "You can reflect on your actions here instead."

Anna spun around. "I didn't poison you! You know I didn't!"

I merely smiled and closed the door.

Three days passed. By the third day, hunger had taken its toll.

"Let me out!" she screamed, pounding weakly on the door. "I need food! Please!"

I brought a simple broth to the isolation room.

When I opened the door, Anna was huddled in the corner, hatred in her eyes despite her weakened state.

"It seems your grandfather doesn't care whether you live or die," I remarked, setting the bowl down.

Anna grabbed the bowl and gulped down the broth desperately.

"If it weren't for you," Anna snarled, "he wouldn't be doing this!"

"But between us, shouldn't I be more furious? I was nearly poisoned to death."

"I didn't put poison in your drink," she insisted, then paused. "You already know that, don't you?"

From my briefcase, I retrieved a document. "The money used to bribe the waiter came from your account."

Anna took the bank statement, her eyes widening as she verified the transactions.

"This isn't possible... I didn't..." she whispered.

I gave her a meaningful look. "If you truly didn't do this, think about who could have accessed your account. And why they would frame you."

That night, I sat with Reginald and Augustus, watching the scene on security screens as a figure slipped inside the isolation room.

"Anna, wake up," a soft voice whispered.

"Calla? Is that really you?"

The woman called Calla knelt beside her. "Yes, it's me. I came to check on you."

"How did you get in here?" Anna asked.

"There were guards for the first couple of days, but they're gone now."

Calla's face showed concern. "They're saying you tried to poison Elena. Is that true?"

"I didn't do anything!" Anna hissed. "This is a setup!"

"I know! Of course I believe you!" Calla squeezed Anna's hand. "But they won't let you out until you confess."

"One of these women is the real culprit," I remarked. "Who do you think it is?"

Reginald studied the screen. "Calla's story has holes. There were never any guards, and she only came after you met with Anna."

My lips curved into a slight smile. "Time to reveal the truth."

I pressed a button, flooding the isolation room with light. Then I walked to the room with security personnel and opened the door.

"Calla, what brings you here so late?" I asked, standing in the doorway.

Calla faltered. "I—I just came to check on Anna..."

She quickly composed herself. "Even though Anna did something wrong, she doesn't deserve to be imprisoned without food!"

I tilted my head. "You and Anna seem close. Were you aware of what she was planning?"

"I don't know anything about it," Calla immediately distanced herself.

Augustus and Reginald entered, dragging the battered waiter between them. Calla's pupils constricted at the sight of him, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.

Gotcha. That reaction says everything.

I approached the waiter. "Are you certain it was Anna who hired you?"

The waiter glanced nervously at Calla before nodding. "Yes."

Anna noticed the fleeting look between them, and suddenly everything clicked.

My smile grew predatory as I turned to Calla. "Well, is there anything else you'd like to share with us?"