Chapter 4 - The Hidden FloorGunfire shattered the library windows.
Julian dragged Meredith behind the stone fireplace.
Richard dropped to the floor.
The security team returned fire.
The masked intruder disappeared into the corridor.
For several seconds, the estate became a maze of alarms, footsteps, and shattered glass.
Then silence.
Julian checked Meredith.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Richard stood.
His hands were shaking.
“You need to leave.”
Meredith stared at him.
“You knew this would happen.”
“I knew something would.”
“Not enough to stop it.”
Richard looked at her.
“Because your father built this place to survive attacks.”
He walked toward the fireplace.
“Your estate has a hidden level.”
Julian frowned.
“What?”
Richard pressed his palm against a carved stone.
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
A section of wall shifted.
Behind it was a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
Meredith stared.
“I have lived here for three years.”
“I know.”
“And you never told me?”
“Your father ordered me never to.”
They descended.
At the bottom was a steel door.
Richard entered a code.
The door opened.
Inside was an underground control room.
Computers lined the walls.
Old surveillance monitors displayed different properties.
Meredith recognized some of them.
Sterling headquarters.
The marina.
The private bank.
Even her father’s old office.
Julian stared at the monitors.
“How long has this been here?”
“Since before you were born.”
Meredith walked toward one screen.
It displayed a live feed.
Genevieve.
She was sitting in the back of a black sedan.
Her face was expressionless.
She was speaking to someone.
The audio came through the speakers.
“I told you the engagement was compromised.”
A man answered.
“You humiliated yourself.”
“I didn’t know Meredith would reveal herself.”
“She was supposed to remain invisible.”
Genevieve clenched her fists.
“What happens now?”
The man leaned closer.
“We accelerate.”
Meredith felt a chill.
Julian stared at the screen.
“Who is she talking to?”
Richard pointed.
“Zoom in.”
The image sharpened.
The man was Helena Vance’s attorney.
But Richard looked more horrified by something else.
“He isn’t the one in charge.”
Julian turned.
“Who is?”
Richard said nothing.
On-screen, another person entered the vehicle.
Genevieve immediately stood.
The camera captured only the person's back.
But Meredith recognized the voice.
Her heart stopped.
“Meredith.”
Julian stared at her.
The voice continued.
“She made herself visible.”
Genevieve nodded.
“We can remove her now.”
Meredith whispered:
“No.”
Because she knew that voice.
Everyone in the room knew it.
It belonged to their father’s personal physician.
Dr. Nathan Cole.
The man who had signed their father’s death certificate.
Richard sat down heavily.
Meredith’s mind raced.
“My father’s death certificate.”
Julian understood.
“The doctor.”
Richard nodded.
“We have been living inside a lie.”
On the monitor, Dr. Cole removed his glasses.
He looked directly at the hidden camera.
For one horrifying second, Meredith felt as though he could see her.
Then he smiled.
The feed cut out.
Every screen in the bunker went black.
A message appeared.
YOU HAVE THREE DAYS.
Then another.
FIND YOUR FATHER.
May you like
Then:
OR BURY MEREDITH FOR REAL.
