Chapter 20 - The Chilling Note
Valeria leaned her tired head gently onto Daniel’s shoulder, a profound sense of peace washing over her as she looked at their newborn son.
"You saved us," she whispered, her voice filled with immense gratitude.
Daniel slowly shook his head, a humble expression on his pale face. "Elena saved us," he corrected gently. "If she hadn't struck Veronica, we wouldn't be here."
Their tender, quiet moment of familial bliss was abruptly interrupted by the soft squeak of the hospital door opening. A young nurse walked in, holding a plain, unmarked white envelope.
"This was just dropped off at the front desk for you," she said politely, handing it to Daniel before stepping out.
Daniel frowned. There was no return address, no name on the front. With trembling fingers, he tore the seal open. Inside was a single, glossy photograph. It was taken from the perspective of the hospital hallway, showing the exact moment Daniel was wheeled into the delivery room. He flipped the photo over. Written on the back, in thick, dripping red ink, was a single, terrifying sentence:
"Now I know exactly where the heir is."
May you like
Valeria, reading over his shoulder, instantly stopped breathing. The blood drained from her face. Daniel’s head snapped toward the door, his eyes wide with sudden panic. The hallway outside was completely empty.
Then, his eyes caught the glint of something sitting on the small table near the door. It was a single, jagged shard of crystal from the mansion's fallen chandelier. None of the medical staff had brought it in. Veronica had escaped the police. She had found them, and she was clearly not finished. Daniel tightly gripped Valeria's hand, while their baby slept peacefully between them. The danger had only just begun.
