Chapter 14 - THE LAST NIGHTEverything happened at once.
Doctors were called.
Police sealed the estate.
Arthur locked every entrance.
Clara searched the security system.
Daniel stayed beside Sarah.
Eleanor was still in custody.
Victor was being transported.
But the person who had entered the nursery remained unknown.
Sarah's contractions intensified.
“I can't do this.”
Daniel held her hand.
“You can.”
“What if they take her?”
“They won't.”
Sarah looked at him.
“You promised that before.”
Daniel swallowed.
“This time I mean it.”
Arthur entered.
“The ambulance is ready.”
Clara turned from the monitor.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
“The ambulance has been compromised.”
“How?”
“GPS.”
She pointed at the system.
“Someone has been tracking Sarah's location.”
Arthur cursed.
“Then we use the tunnel.”
Sarah struggled to breathe.
“Where?”
Clara answered:
“The old chapel.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She needs medical equipment.”
Clara looked at him.
“There is a hidden emergency room.”
Arthur nodded.
“I saw it.”
They moved.
Sarah barely managed to walk.
Another contraction.
She cried out.
Daniel carried her.
Halfway through the tunnel, the lights went out.
Again.
Arthur stopped.
“Someone cut power.”
Clara checked her phone.
“No signal.”
Sarah whispered:
“She's here.”
Daniel looked around.
“Who?”
Sarah heard footsteps.
Then a voice.
“Sarah.”
Eleanor.
Daniel froze.
Impossible.
She was supposed to be in custody.
Clara turned.
“How did you get out?”
Eleanor smiled.
“Money.”
Police sirens echoed far away.
Eleanor stepped forward.
“You have something that belongs to me.”
Sarah looked at her.
“My baby does not belong to you.”
Eleanor laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
She pulled out a document.
“Daniel signed custody rights.”
Daniel stared.
“I never signed anything.”
Eleanor held up the paper.
“You did.”
Arthur grabbed it.
His face changed.
“This signature…”
Daniel looked.
“It isn't mine.”
Victor's voice suddenly echoed from the darkness.
“That won't matter.”
Everyone turned.
Victor stood at the far end of the tunnel.
Police officers lay unconscious behind him.
Arthur stared.
“How did you escape?”
Victor smiled.
“You underestimate how many people work for me.”
Clara stepped in front of Sarah.
“Stay back.”
Victor raised a hand.
“I don't want a fight.”
He looked at Sarah.
“I want a birth.”
Daniel shouted:
“You're insane.”
Victor ignored him.
“Your child will be born tonight.”
Sarah's eyes widened.
“You caused this.”
Victor smiled.
“Your stress was enough.”
Clara realized.
“He triggered the early labor.”
Victor nodded.
“Exactly.”
Arthur whispered:
“You've been manipulating her for months.”
Victor answered:
“Every photograph. Every threat. Every staged incident.”
Sarah stared.
“The hospital.”
“The masked man.”
“The news.”
“The nursery.”
“All of it.”
Daniel looked sick.
“Why?”
Victor's smile vanished.
“Because fear makes people predictable.”
Sarah leaned against the wall.
Another contraction.
Stronger.
She screamed.
Arthur looked at the hidden room.
“Move.”
They rushed into the emergency chamber.
The door sealed.
Victor and Eleanor remained outside.
Sarah was placed on the medical bed.
Doctors worked quickly.
Daniel held her hand.
Clara stood beside him.
Arthur watched the monitors.
“Heart rate?”
“Strong.”
Sarah cried.
“I can't.”
Daniel leaned down.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“You're not alone.”
“I’m scared.”
“So am I.”
Daniel kissed her forehead.
“But I'm here.”
Outside, Eleanor slammed her fist against the steel door.
“Sarah!”
The baby’s heart monitor began racing.
Doctor shouted:
“She’s in distress.”
Sarah gasped.
“What?”
“Stay calm.”
“I can't!”
Daniel held her.
Then the lights flickered again.
The secure room began unlocking.
Clara looked at the door.
“What?”
Arthur stared.
“The system has been overridden.”
“By who?”
The door opened.
A figure entered.
Not Eleanor.
Not Victor.
A woman.
She walked directly toward Sarah.
Older.
Dark hair.
Tears in her eyes.
Sarah stared at her.
The woman whispered:
“My little girl.”
Sarah stopped breathing.
“Mom?”
The woman nodded.
“Yes.”
She stepped closer.
“I came back for you.”
Then she looked at the doctors.
“Save my daughter.”
Her expression turned cold.
“And save my granddaughter.”
Behind her, Victor screamed from the corridor.
“No!”
Helen turned.
For the first time in forty years, Victor Hale looked afraid.
May you like
Because the woman he thought was dead was standing there.
And she was holding the original trust.
