Chapter 10: The Grandmother’s Final Demand
Daniel arrived at the Hart estate with Detective Lane hidden in the back seat and Michael crouched low beside him.
The mansion gates opened by themselves.
Victoria’s voice came through the intercom. “Daniel only.”
Daniel looked at Lane.
Lane whispered, “We’re already inside the perimeter. Buy time.”
Daniel stepped out carrying a folder.
“Where is Hope?” he shouted.
The front door opened.
Victoria stood in the foyer wearing her wedding pearls as if nothing had happened.
“She is safe.”
“I want to see her.”
“Sign first.”
“No.”
Victoria smiled. “Still trying to act like a strong man.”
Daniel walked inside slowly. “You killed Dad, didn’t you?”
Her smile faded.
“Michael talks too much.”
“He found something.”
“He found old pain.”
“He found proof.”
Victoria moved toward the staircase. “Your father wanted to give everything away. Charity, employees, unborn grandchildren. He forgot who built his empire beside him.”
“So you killed him.”
“I corrected his weakness.”
Daniel’s hands shook. “And now you want to kill my daughter?”
“I don’t want to kill her. I want to remove her legal power.”
“She is not a legal problem. She is family.”
Victoria’s eyes hardened. “Family obeys.”
A baby cried upstairs.
Daniel’s body moved before his mind did.
Victoria pulled a small pistol from her sleeve. “Stop.”
Daniel froze.
“Folder on the table,” she ordered.
He placed it down.
“Open it.”
He opened the folder.
Victoria looked at the papers and smiled. “Good boy.”
Daniel said, “You can still stop.”
“I stopped being afraid years ago.”
A voice came from the hallway.
“You should start again.”
Emily stood there, pale, weak, but upright, holding the railing with one hand.
Daniel gasped. “Emily!”
Behind her, Clara stood with a police officer, her face swollen from crying.
Clara whispered, “I told them the old nursery code.”
Victoria aimed the gun at Emily. “You should have died at the hospital.”
Emily lifted her chin. “You should have loved your granddaughter.”
Lane appeared behind Victoria. “Drop the weapon.”
Victoria grabbed the folder and ran upstairs.
Daniel chased her.
In the nursery, Hope lay in a bassinet beside the window.
Daniel rushed to the baby, but Victoria stood behind him with the gun.
“Move away from her.”
Daniel slowly lifted Hope into his arms. “No.”
Victoria’s hand trembled. “Give her to me.”
Emily appeared in the doorway. “Victoria, it’s over.”
Victoria’s eyes filled with pure hate.
“Not while I’m breathing.”
A shot rang out.
Daniel turned, shielding Hope.
Emily screamed.
Victoria staggered backward, staring down at blood on her shoulder.
Detective Lane lowered his weapon. “It’s over.”
But Victoria smiled.
“No,” she whispered. “It’s just beginning.”
Daniel looked down and saw her other hand pressing a hidden alarm button beneath the nursery table.
Outside, the estate gates slammed shut.
Metal shutters dropped over every window.
A recorded voice filled the mansion.
May you like
LOCKDOWN ACTIVE. FIRE SYSTEM ARMED.
Smoke began pouring under the nursery door.
