{"id":1033,"date":"2026-09-15T22:31:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T22:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/?p=1033"},"modified":"2026-09-15T22:31:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T22:31:35","slug":"chapter-1-the-buttons-on-the-marble-floorrichard-whitmore-knew-something-was-wrong-the-moment-sophia-checked-the-hallway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/?p=1033","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 1 &#8211; THE BUTTONS ON THE MARBLE FLOORRichard Whitmore knew something was wrong the moment Sophia checked the hallway."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was a tiny movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A glance over her shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then another toward the staircase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard stood several feet away in the bright Beverly Hills living room, one hand resting lightly on the silver head of his walking cane\u2014not because he needed it every moment, but because at seventy-five his left knee had begun protesting long afternoons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia\u2019s face had been calm seconds earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now she looked almost frightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is it?\u201d Richard asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"483\" height=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-45.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1034\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-45.png 483w, https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-45-214x300.png 214w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She did not answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, Sophia lifted both hands and dragged them through her long brown hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She twisted several strands until her elegant hairstyle looked disordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, before Richard could move, Sophia grabbed the front of her champagne silk blouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">RIP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two buttons flew across the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A third bounced once against the polished floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSophia\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"471\" height=\"715\" src=\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-46.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1035\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-46.png 471w, https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-46-198x300.png 198w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She tore one more loose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her blouse remained modest, but the effect was obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Messy hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missing buttons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tears already forming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia stepped backward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then screamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHELP!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard\u2019s face drained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGET AWAY FROM ME!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"472\" height=\"711\" src=\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-47.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1036\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-47.png 472w, https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-47-199x300.png 199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He immediately raised both hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did not move toward her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSophia, stop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Footsteps thundered from the hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan entered first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Charcoal suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Face alarmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Behind him came his aunt, two house staff members, and several guests who had arrived early for a family dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan looked at his wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia wrapped both arms around herself and began sobbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he looked at Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His father stood opposite her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hands raised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Face stunned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan did not ask a question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He crossed the distance between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SLAP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard staggered half a step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan\u2019s voice cracked with fury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow dare you touch her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"472\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-48.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1037\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-48.png 472w, https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-48-199x300.png 199w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard looked at his son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Something worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heartbroken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia moved behind Ethan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe came at me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou stay away from her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan pointed toward the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGet out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That finally changed Richard\u2019s expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is my house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard looked at him for several seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then slowly raised one trembling hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pointed upward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone followed his finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the upper corner of the living room\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">a security camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its small red recording light glowed steadily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia\u2019s crying stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not gradually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard saw it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan saw it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia looked at the camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then at the buttons scattered across the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan slowly turned toward his wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSophia?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her face went white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard finally spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAsk Malcolm for the footage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malcolm Price, director of residential security, was summoned from the west wing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He arrived seven minutes later carrying a tablet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan paced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia sat on a sofa, wrapped in a cardigan given by a housekeeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard remained standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody apologized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malcolm entered the camera system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Living room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Camera 03.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan demanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malcolm tapped again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe feed is live.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen play the last twenty minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malcolm\u2019s expression changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia looked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Something more controlled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy not?\u201d Ethan asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe recording archive is blank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat do you mean blank?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNothing stored from 2:00 until now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard looked at the wall clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3:17 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malcolm checked another camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also blank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grand staircase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAre you telling me every camera failed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOnly interior zone B.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhich includes this room?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia began crying again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Different tears now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey never record properly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard looked directly at Malcolm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat camera was serviced three weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBy whom?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malcolm hesitated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAn outside contractor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cName?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCalder Security Integration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard\u2019s eyes moved toward Sophia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her brother, Damien Calder, owned a technology-services company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not the same company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps coincidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard was too experienced to accuse without evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan turned toward his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo the camera proves nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt proves someone expected it to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia rose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAre you accusing me of sabotaging cameras now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan rubbed his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou saw her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI saw what she made you see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re calling my wife a liar?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard\u2019s cheek remained red where Ethan struck him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m telling you I never touched her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia shook her head violently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe grabbed me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard looked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou tore my blouse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou removed three buttons yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four, actually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard remembered every one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia began crying harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan stepped between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEnough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard looked at his son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAsk yourself one question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy did she look at the camera before she screamed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard did not argue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He simply bent carefully, picked up one of the buttons from the floor, and placed it on the coffee table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia watched him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo not throw those away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan\u2019s patience snapped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey\u2019re buttons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard looked at his son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey\u2019re evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then he walked toward the staircase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ethan called after him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo my study.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He looked back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo find out why your wife needed me accused of something today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That word mattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Richard had lived through enough hostile business negotiations to recognize timing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And there was something Ethan did not know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At nine o\u2019clock the following morning, Richard Whitmore was scheduled to sign a document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A document Sophia had spent six months trying to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It had nothing to do with the mansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing to do with the family dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It controlled nearly $680 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if Richard signed it\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sophia would lose access to every dollar she had quietly been building her future around.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>It was a tiny movement. A glance over her shoulder. Then another toward the staircase. Richard stood several feet away in the bright Beverly Hills <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/?p=1033\" title=\"Chapter 1 &#8211; THE BUTTONS ON THE MARBLE FLOORRichard Whitmore knew something was wrong the moment Sophia checked the hallway.\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1034,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-model","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1033"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1038,"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1033\/revisions\/1038"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}