Chapter 3 - The Brides Who Lost Everything
Olivia insisted she never sent the message. Analysts confirmed it came from her phone while she was unconscious after a pre-wedding tasting. Grant had copied her code, while Eleanor called that marital trust. “A wife shares everything,” she said. Olivia answered, “Trust is not a blank check for theft.” Maya found a faint puncture mark beneath Olivia’s bracelet. Toxicology revealed a sedative that could cause confusion. Grant claimed she used it for anxiety. Then Rosa, a vineyard server, stepped forward. She had watched him pour something into Olivia’s drink. Eleanor dismissed her. “You carry trays. Do not pretend you understand medicine.” Rosa replied, “I understand fear when rich men expect staff to look away.” Federal agents opened the estate clinic’s records. The prescription was issued under Maya’s license. Maya went pale. Her credentials had been used before—on six brides who later signed away worker-owned shares.
