CHAPTER 39: Another Dead End
With a pounding heart, I waited until the last echo of Nicola's footsteps faded before emerging from my hiding place behind the heavy pillar.
My mind buzzed with a lot of questions. Did Nicola truly despise Ava enough to harm her? The woman I'd just seen didn't exactly project the image of a cold-blooded killer, but appearances could be deceiving.
One thing was certain: Nicola hadn't approved of Ava's relationship with Alexander. The venom in her voice when she'd spoken of Ava as someone who "abandoned" him was unmistakable. Perhaps there was more to the story hidden within the pages of Ava's diary. It was a long shot, but it was the only lead I had.
Suddenly, the suffocating air of the crowded mansion felt unbearable. I needed space, and time to think. Bidding farewell to the festivities, I started weaving my way through the crowd of people, my eyes scanning for an exit.