The Graham Heir—I Am Not An Adopted Nobody

Chapter 37: A Smile With Fangs

Edward saw it clearly. Robert had finally stepped onto the dance floor, and Anna was in his arms.

For a heartbeat, Chloe felt his hand tighten around hers, the grip almost bruising. "So he came," she whispered. "What are we waiting for?"

Edward’s lips curled into a soulless smile. "Nothing."

They began to move again. Their steps were slow and smooth, drifting through the dancing guests like shadows. Across the room, Robert locked eyes with him. It wasn't a look of anger or a challenge, it was a silent, heavy warning.

Edward held that gaze for a second too long, then looked away with a bored shrug, as if Robert didn't exist. He spun Chloe gently, keeping perfect time with the music.

Anna felt the change in the air. "Is something wrong?" she asked softly, leaning into Robert as he guided her through a slow turn.

Robert’s face was a mask of calm. "No. Let's keep dancing." But his eyes were no longer relaxed, they were scanning every move Edward made.

On the edge of the floor, Tracy saw the shift too. Edward wasn't just dancing anymore. He and Chloe were moving with a predatory purpose. They were sliding between couples, weaving through the crowd, getting closer and closer to Robert.

"Malcolm," she hissed under her breath, keeping a fake smile plastered on her face for the sake of the guests. "That sly bastard is heading straight for Robert."

Malcolm tried to keep his feet moving steadily. "Just stay calm."

"I should have left when I had the chance," she whispered, her heart starting to race. "Now, if I walk away, everyone will think I’m part of whatever he's planning."

Edward and Chloe were only a few feet away now. The gap between them was closing. The music seemed to grow deeper, the bass thumping in her chest like a heavy pulse.

Tracy didn't have a plan, so she did the only thing she could. She followed. She kept dancing, kept smiling, but her eyes never left Edward’s hands.

Edward was almost there. Now there were two couples between them. Then one.

In one fluid motion, Edward sent Chloe into a wide spin and stepped forward toward Robert’s back.

But Tracy was faster. She lunged through the crowd, sliding between the dancing bodies and stepping directly into Edward’s path. He collided with her, catching her shoulders automatically to keep them both from falling. To anyone watching, it looked like a clumsy part of the dance.

But in that split second of contact, Tracy felt something hard against her palm. It was cold and metallic.

She looked down.

Hidden in Edward’s grip was a slim glass tube. It was filled with a thick, dark liquid.

Venom.

Her heart hammered against her ribs. Without thinking, she twisted her wrist and pressed her body close to his, as if she were correcting a dance step. Her fingers clamped around the tube. With a quick, desperate tug, she slid it out of his hand and dropped it into her purse.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

The music played on, but the energy in the room changed. Malcolm froze and Anna stepped back, but Robert saw the whole thing.

Edward pulled back, his face turning pale. His charming smile was gone, replaced by a look of pure hatred. "Give it back," he hissed, his voice trembling with rage. "You're ruining everything."

"No," Tracy whispered back. "I won't let you do this."

Edward blinked, surprised by the response. He realized he had lost the edge. Suddenly, he shoved her back and shouted, his voice echoing across the hall.

"This woman just tried to kill Robert!"

The music went off and gasps broke out from every corner of the room.

"She rushed at him!" Edward cried out, his voice full of fake horror. "She had a needle! She was trying to poison him!"

Every eye in the room turned to Tracy. They saw her shaking hands. They saw her clutching her purse.

"That's a lie!" Tracy screamed. "It was his! I took it from him!"

Edward let out a long, shaky sigh, looking at her with fake pity. "Tracy... How could you? You’ve been trying to ruin this night from the start. But this? Murder?"

Malcolm stepped in front of her. "She would never—"

"Shut up!" Edward snapped. Then, he looked back at the crowd, his voice soft and grieving. "I tried to help you. I tried to include you as my best friend. And this is how you repay me?"

He turned to the security guards. "Search us both. I have nothing to hide."

The guests watched with wide eyes.

Tracy lifted her chin, her eyes holding back tears. "Fine. Search me." She looked at the crowd, took the tube out of her purse, held it high, and raised her voice.

 "He was the one moving toward Robert! I saw the poison and I stopped him before he could use it!"

Edward shook his head, looking heartbroken. "How desperate are you," he whispered, "to blame me for your own madness?"

Security marched towards them, followed by police officers in dark uniforms. The air in the room felt thick. They grabbed Malcolm and Tracy, pinning their arms behind.

"We didn't do anything!" Malcolm yelled, struggling against the grip.

"Wait."

Robert’s voice was firm. It cut through the shouting instantly. Everyone went silent and the officers stopped.

Robert walked forward slowly, his boots clicking on the marble floor. He stopped right in front of Tracy and looked deep into her eyes.

"Did you mean to use it?" he asked. His voice was strangely calm.

Tracy swallowed hard. Her voice shook, but she didn't look away. "No. I swear. I would never hurt anyone. I only took it to save you."

Robert watched her face for a long minute. The silence was deafening. Finally, he looked at the police.

"Let them go.”

Shocked gasps came from the audience. Edward’s jaw dropped. "They tried to kill you—"

"I said, let them go," Robert repeated. His voice left no room for argument.

The officers hesitated, then stepped back. Tracy let out a breath she felt like she’d been holding for a lifetime.

"We were leaving anyway," she said quietly, her voice gaining strength. "Edward asked us to cause trouble earlier tonight. We told him no, then he did this."

It sounded small compared to Edward's big act, but she didn't care. Malcolm nodded. "We never wanted any part of this."

Robert nodded once. "You may leave."

They gave a small, respectful bow. Then Malcolm, Tracy, Julie, and Silver turned as one and walked out. The heavy double doors slammed shut behind them, leaving the room in total silence.

Edward stood there, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The music was gone and the dance was over.

Robert didn't look at him. Instead, he met Barry's eyes. He made a small sign with his hand — two fingers out, then a motion like he was writing.

The signal was clear.

Barry stepped forward and cleared his throat, his voice booming through the hall. "Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. We will now begin the signing of the Emmett contract."

People began to move, chairs scraped against the floor, and the guests sat perfectly as if the attempted murder had never happened.

Robert straightened his sleeves and adjusted his cuffs. He looked at Edward’s one last time.

This time, there was no smile on his face. He had taken off the mask and stared back at Robert.

The real war had just begun.