I Sold My Company For $120 Million And Retired To Santorini. My Nephew Kept Asking About My Will While Holding A Poisoned Bottle Of Wine. I Decided To Play Dead To See His True Colors.

Below, there was only the iron railing 20 feet down, hidden from view, then rocks and water.

“Perfect,”

Derek said.

“Now turn around and look at the view. I want to capture your expression as you take it all in.”

I turned my back to him and heard his footsteps closer—closer.

“Derek!”

Benjamin’s voice was sharp. He’d come back out to the terrace.

“I need Vincent for a moment. Legal question about the foundation paperwork.”

Derek froze.

“Can it wait? I’m trying to—”

“It can’t wait. Vincent, my office in five minutes.”

I turned back around. Derek’s face was tight with frustration.

“Sure, Benjamin. Whatever you need.”

The Bait and the Trap

I met with Benjamin in the study.

“Thank you,”

I said.

“Something’s wrong,”

he said.

“I’ve known you 30 years, Vincent. What’s going on?”

I told him everything: the wine, Maria’s footage, the attempts to get me near the cliff edge. Benjamin’s face darkened.

“We need to call the police.”

“And tell them what? That my nephew gave me a glass of wine? That he wanted to take my photo near a scenic spot? Without proof of what he put in that wine, without catching him in the act, we have nothing.”

“Then what do you propose?”

“I need him to show his hand. I need him to try again with witnesses, with undeniable proof.”

“That’s insane. You’re talking about making yourself bait.”

“It’s the only way.”

I looked at him.

“Will you help me?”

He was quiet for a long moment.

“Catherine would kill me if she knew I was agreeing to this.”

“Catherine would understand.”

We made our plan. I would go through with Derek’s photo opportunity, but Benjamin and Maria would watch from hidden vantage points. We’d set up Maria’s phone to record video from inside the villa pointed at the terrace.

If Derek tried something, we’d have proof. I found Derek in the kitchen pouring himself a drink.

“Hey,”

I said.

“Sorry about earlier. I’m being paranoid about something Benjamin said about the foundation. Let’s do that photo now while the light’s still good.”

His eyes lit up.

“Really? Yeah, absolutely. Let’s go.”

The Shove

We walked out to the terrace. The sun was almost down now, the sky streaked with orange and purple. I could see Maria inside, her phone camera pointed at us through the window.

Benjamin was on the lower terrace, pretending to read. I walked to the edge, to the low wall. Derek followed, phone raised.

“This is going to be great, Uncle Vincent. Turn around, look at the sunset.”

I turned my back to him. My heart hammered, and every instinct screamed to move, to run, but I forced myself to stand still. I heard his breathing change.

I heard the rustle of fabric as he pocketed his phone. I heard the soft scuff of his shoes on stone as he moved closer.

“Derek?”

It was Elena’s voice from the doorway.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking a photo,”

he said, his voice tight.

“You’re not holding your phone.”

Time slowed. I felt his hands on my back—a hard shove—and then I was falling. I twisted as I went over, my hands reaching, and caught the top of the wall.

I hung there for a second, then my grip slipped and I fell again. Twenty feet down, my hands caught the iron safety railing. Pain shot through my shoulders and my arms, but I held on.

I pulled my legs up, wrapping them around the railing and securing myself. Above me, I heard Derek’s voice.

“Elena, Maria, come quick!”

A pause.

“Vincent collapsed. I think it’s his heart. Oh god, I think he went over the edge.”

The Falling Mask

Footsteps pounded above. Then came Elena’s scream.

“Dad! Dad!”

It was Derek again.

“He just—he was looking at the sunset, and then he grabbed his chest and went over. It happened so fast. We have to call for help.”

He continued.