Chapter 15 - THE WOMAN IN THE ATTIC
Daniel followed the blood upstairs.
Olivia ran after him.
“Daniel, stop.”
He ignored her.
The trail continued past the bridal suite and ended at a narrow staircase leading to the attic.
The door was locked.
Daniel used Thomas’s electronic key.
It opened.
Serena lay behind several storage boxes.
Her wrists were tied.
Blood darkened the hair above her left ear.
Daniel knelt beside her.
“Call an ambulance.”
Olivia stood in the doorway.
“I didn’t do that.”
Serena opened her eyes.
“She’s telling the truth.”
Daniel cut the rope around Serena’s wrists.
“Who attacked you?”
“Richard’s security chief.”
Olivia entered slowly.
“Why?”
Serena looked at her.
“Because I was going to tell you the truth.”
“I already know the truth.”
“No, you know the story Richard gave us.”
Serena reached beneath her torn dress and removed a small memory card.
“I found the original case files.”
Olivia’s face changed.
“What case files?”
“The records of our parents’ deaths.”
Serena handed the card to Daniel.
“Arthur Mercer ordered the murders.”
Olivia shook her head.
“No.”
“Thomas Bennett saved us.”
“No.”
“Richard knew.”
Olivia backed into the wall.
For years, hatred had given structure to every painful memory from her childhood.
It had explained why she had no parents.
It had justified every lie she told Daniel.
Without that hatred, she would have to confront what she had become.
“Richard raised me,” Olivia whispered.
“He used you,” Serena said.
Daniel stood.
“And you used me.”
Olivia looked at him.
Something inside her finally cracked.
“I was supposed to get close to you.”
“You did.”
“I was supposed to make you trust me.”
“You did.”
“I wasn’t supposed to love you.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Do not call what you did love.”
“I tried to stop the plan.”
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
Serena nodded weakly.
“She did.”
Daniel looked at her.
“She told Richard she wanted out.”
“What happened?”
“He threatened to expose Emma.”
Olivia stepped closer.
“The first transfer was Richard’s idea.”
“You still carried it out.”
“He said he would kill Serena.”
Serena closed her eyes.
“He almost did.”
Police sirens rose outside the estate.
Olivia took Daniel’s hand.
“I can help you prove everything.”
He pulled away.
“You had every chance to tell me.”
“I was afraid.”
“So was Emma.”
Daniel held up the memory card.
“But you were willing to send her to prison.”
Footsteps thundered on the staircase.
May you like
Richard Mercer appeared holding a handgun.
“No one is going to prison.”
