Victoria gasped, taking a quick step backward onto the polished marble, her hands fluttering anxiously at her silk collar as she tried to regain her composure. "Julian, darling, don't listen to this foolish boy!" she stammered, her voice rising in pitched panic. "He found a stray pin from my tailoring kit and he's making up nonsense! He could have hurt Clara!"
Julian didn't blink. He slowly turned his head to look down at young Leo, who was holding out the small metallic object with a surprisingly steady hand. "Leo," Julian said softly, his voice firm yet gentle. "Tell me exactly what you saw in the study before we came out to the foyer."
The young boy took a deep breath, pointing his small finger directly at Victoria. "She put a fake silicone pouch inside Aunt Clara's maternity dress last month," Leo explained clearly, his innocent voice carrying across the quiet room. "And today, she put a tiny sleep drug inside Clara's tea so she could take her to the hospital clinic before anyone noticed her belly wasn't real! That needle has the liquid from the cup she tried to make her drink!"
Clara let out a ragged sob, her hands trembling violently against her teal dress as she looked at her mother-in-law in total betrayal. "Victoria... you've been faking my medical records?" Clara whimpered, the realization hitting her like a physical blow. "You tried to make my husband think I was faking my pregnancy just to drive us apart?"