Mark adjusted his navy blue suit jacket while looking around the bright marble hall.
His eight-year-old son, Leo, stood quietly by his side while playing with his small jacket buttons.
Leo wore a small clear hearing aid in his left ear to help him process speech clearly.
The family estate was filled with local business leaders and prominent city officials for an afternoon gathering.
Mark was a hardworking father who took over the family business after his wife passed away three years ago.
His sister-in-law, Victoria, had always managed the company accounts with absolute authority and strict discipline.
Victoria walked across the polished floor in a long black dress while holding a silver tray.
She stopped near the grand floral arrangement and glanced toward Mark with a cold expression.
Leo suddenly pulled on his father's sleeve to get his full attention.
Leo: Dad, my hearing aid is making a weird buzzing sound today.
Mark: Let me look at it after we finish talking to the guests, buddy.
Mark patted Leo's shoulder gently and smiled down at his quiet son.
Victoria approached the two of them with a fake smile on her face.
Victoria: Mark, the city mayor wants to review the latest property inheritance papers upstairs.
Mark: I will head up right now, but please keep an eye on Leo for a few minutes.
Victoria: Do not worry, Mark, I will take care of everything down here.
Mark nodded and walked toward the grand staircase without suspecting any foul play.
Leo sat down near a large banquet table with his coloring book in hand.
Victoria watched Mark walk out of sight before turning her attention to the young boy.
She noticed Leo was playing with the small dial on his ear device near the speaker box.
A hushed conversation was playing through the room's hidden audio feed into Leo's custom device.
Victoria leaned down close to Leo's head with a sudden look of intense panic.
Victoria: What are you listening to on that tiny machine, Leo?
Leo: I hear aunt Victoria talking about taking dad's house on the phone.
Victoria reached out quickly and snatched the clear hearing aid directly from his ear.
Victoria: You heard something you were not supposed to hear.
The small plastic device made a quiet clicking sound as she squeezed it tight in her palm.
Leo backed away in absolute terror and scrambled under the purple banquet table cloth.
Victoria dropped the broken pieces on the hard floor and stepped on them deliberately.
She looked around to ensure none of the nearby guests had witnessed her actions.
Leo kept his hands over his mouth to avoid making any noise under the dark table cover.
He could hear the heavy thud of footsteps approaching the main hall from the front entrance.
Victoria reached under the table skirt to grab Leo by his jacket collar forcibly.
Victoria: Come out of there right now and stop making a scene!
Leo kicked his feet frantically to escape her firm grasp in the quiet corner.