"You're saying, Avery's started acting strange when we came back," Alex said with a solemn face.
"Yes. If what we've gathered is accurate, then she has been replaced."
His eyes focused on the footage in front of him.
"Where are you, Avery?" he murmured.
The chair creaked when he pushed it back to stand. He opened the door to his office with his free hand. He looked down from the stairs.
Veronica.
He knew his wife was acting odd, and Avery told him that Veronica was among them.
"How stupid of me."
Light footsteps echoed in the hallway, and a maid came into view.
"Food is ready, sir."
Alex nodded. He strode to the dining room.
As usual, he sat in the head chair, earning a scoff from Jolly.
"That was Lennox's seat."
The door squeaked when Veronica walked in with a smile stretched too wide across her face.
Alex's gaze fixed on her. He has to figure out how to make Veronica speak without trying. He can't let her know; he knows her secret, and he also can't put Avery in trouble.
Veronica moved to Alex's right and settled into her seat.
"How was your day, bae?" Veronica asked.
She sounds exactly like Avery. However, there was a little roughness. Alex's jaw tightened, and he smiled at her.
"Good. You?"
Veronica clasped her hands together and smiled back.
"Good."
Maids walked in with trays full of food.
Veronica eyed Jolly.
"Aunt Jolly, I heard your soup was made from the freshest ingredients."
"Yes, and?" Jolly said with her brows raised
"You look younger each day."
Jolly chuckled with her hand on her chest.
"Of course. I only eat the best."
She leaned towards her spoon and sipped her soup.
Veronica's smile widened.
Perfect.
Her gaze stayed on Jolly as she changed foods.
She lowered her head, eating as if nothing had happened.
"AHHH!" Jolly screamed.
Heads turned towards Jolly. Her smile stretched further, but she covered her mouth with a napkin.
Alex's gaze landed on her, and his brows furrowed before he turned to Jolly.
"F- finger. M- Max's. My baby's finger.
A spoon dropped. So with a finger.
Jolly gagged, clutching her chest before throwing up.
Veronica stared at the finger on the table. She made sure it was the finger that Max had a tattoo.
She dabbed at her tears with the napkin, still smiling.
A maid helped Jolly to the living room, and she fanned her.
Another maid rushed towards her.
"You have a parcel, Mrs Jolly."
"P- parcel?"
Jolly trembled.
In the dining room, Alex looked at Veronica with a neutral face.
He knew her secret relationship with his cousin. The chair creaked as he stood up.
His fingers fixed his cufflinks and strode out of the room. He passed by the living room to his office.
Jolly swayed when she made her way to the door. A box came into view.
Her breaths came in sharp, uneven bursts.
She opened the box and stuttered.
"M- Max."
A maid rushed and caught her before she could fall. The maid peeked inside the box, and her face drained.
Inside the box was a severed head. Max's