The rain lashed against the windows of Blackwood Manor, a soundtrack to the unfolding chaos. A bloodcurdling scream sliced through the storm, a sound that chilled even the warmth of the hearth. Detective Mallory, hunched over his morning coffee, flinched at the sudden, jarring howl. The butler stood frozen in the doorway, his face pale as the moon struggling to peek through the driving rain. On the table before him lay a newspaper, the headline screaming of a nefarious deed: "Millionaire Found Dead at Society Gala!". Mrs. Blackwood, her face contorted in grief, crumpled onto the chaise lounge, weeping silently. The opulent drawing room, usually buzzing with whispered accusations and haggling over jewels, now echoed only with her sobs. The polished mahogany floor reflected the dull light from the flickering candles, puddles of rainwater seeping in through the tall windows, blurring the shards of Mrs. Blackwood's shattered world.