Chapter 11 - The Dead Woman in Room FourDaniel couldn’t move.
Elena stood ten feet away.
Alive.
Older.
Her hair shorter.
Her face thinner.
But those eyes.
He knew those eyes.
The woman he had buried eighteen years ago was standing in front of him.
“You’re alive.”
Elena nodded.
“For eighteen years.”
Daniel’s knees almost gave way.
“Why?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of Margaret?”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
Margaret stood completely still.
“You knew.”
“She was protecting herself.”
Elena’s eyes hardened.
“She was protecting her money.”
Daniel turned toward his mother.
“You told me she died.”
Margaret said nothing.
Elena stepped closer.
“I survived the crash.”
“What happened?”
“Your mother found me before the ambulance.”
Daniel stared.
“She took me somewhere else.”
“To the mill?”
“Yes.”
“She kept you here?”
“Not here. Not always.”
Elena looked around.
“She moved me between properties.”
Daniel’s voice cracked.
“How did you survive?”
“A stranger helped me escape.”
“Then why didn’t you come back?”
Elena looked at Margaret.
“Because she had Ivy.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“Elena had your daughter?” Claire asked.
“Margaret threatened to take Ivy.”
Elena nodded.
“She told me if I returned, she would destroy Daniel, take the trust, and make sure I never saw my daughter again.”
Daniel’s fists clenched.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I did.”
“When?”
“Three times.”
“You never reached me.”
“I know.”
Elena looked at Margaret.
“She blocked the calls.”
Daniel turned to his mother.
Margaret’s face remained calm.
“You were afraid.”
“No.”
She looked at Elena.
“I was angry.”
“Why?”
“Because you ruined everything.”
Elena shook her head.
“You ruined yourself.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“Where is Ivy?”
A sound came from upstairs.
“Dad!”
Daniel ran.
He opened Room Four.
Ivy was sitting on the floor.
Her wrists were not bound.
She looked frightened but unharmed.
Daniel dropped to his knees and pulled her close.
“I’ve got you.”
“I knew you’d come.”
Claire rushed upstairs.
She hugged Ivy.
Then Ivy pointed toward the corner.
“Grandma told me to stay here.”
Daniel looked down the hallway.
Margaret had disappeared.
They found her downstairs.
The front door was locked.
Daniel checked.
She had nowhere to go.
“You brought Elena here.”
Margaret said nothing.
“You hid her for eighteen years.”
“I prevented a scandal.”
“A scandal?”
“You don’t know what would happen if the truth came out.”
Elena came downstairs.
“I know exactly what happens.”
She held up the old ledger.
“The family loses everything.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
Elena looked at him.
“Your father’s company wasn’t built on legitimate money.”
Daniel stared.
“He used illegal accounts.”
“And Margaret continued them.”
“Yes.”
Victor suddenly appeared at the door.
Daniel turned.
“You followed me?”
Victor shook his head.
“I came to end it.”
Margaret smiled.
“You always were a coward.”
Victor looked at her.
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“I was a coward when I let you control me.”
He held up a USB drive.
“I copied the complete footage.”
Margaret’s face changed.
Victor continued.
“Every conversation.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“What’s on it?”
“The truth.”
Margaret lunged for him.
Daniel blocked her.
The drive fell.
Ivy screamed.
Claire grabbed her.
The USB slid across the floor.
Straight toward the fireplace.
Margaret looked at it.
Then at Daniel.
“You really want to know what Elena did that night?”
Daniel turned.
Margaret whispered:
“She was leaving with your daughter.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
“She planned to disappear with Ivy.”
Elena shook her head.
“I was trying to protect her.”
Margaret smiled.
“Ask her why.”
Daniel looked at Elena.
“Why were you leaving?”
May you like
Elena’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because someone else was trying to kill Ivy.”
