Chapter 7
The wail of distant sirens began to bleed through the thick, soundproof walls of the luxury estate. The sound caused a fresh wave of absolute terror to wash over Marcus. He darted toward the massive bay windows, desperately looking for a way out.
"They're coming, Mother," Marcus whimpered, his hands shaking violently as he tugged at his dark tie, feeling as though it were a noose tightening around his neck. "The police are coming. What do we do?"
"Stand your ground," the Mother commanded, her American accent sharp and unyielding. She smoothed the front of her black velvet dress, her face setting into a mask of cold defiance. "We are a wealthy, respected family. We will tell the authorities that Daniel is suffering from a grief-induced delusion. Dr. Vance will corroborate our story that Elena passed away."
"Dr. Vance will be in handcuffs before midnight," Daniel stated, his voice a heavy, immovable anchor in the chaotic room. "And so will you."
Daniel stepped away from the coffin for a moment, walking slowly toward his mother and brother. The guests parted for him, treating him with the fearful respect one affords a dangerous predator.
"You think your money will protect you," Daniel said, stopping just a few feet away from the matriarch. "You think you can buy your way out of burying a pregnant woman alive in a mahogany box lined with white satin."
"I have bought my way out of worse," the Mother sneered, her blue eyes locking onto his. "You are my son, Daniel. But if you pursue this, I will crush you. I will tie you up in litigation for decades. You will lose the company, the estate, and your reputation."
"I don't care about the company," Daniel replied softly, the sheer intensity of his gaze making her take a subconscious step backward. "I only care about the woman lying in that coffin, and the child she is fighting to bring into this world."
"Then you are a fool," the Mother spat. "Love is a weakness in our world. Marcus understood that. He was willing to do what was necessary to protect the assets."
"Marcus is a coward," Daniel said, not even glancing at his hyper-ventilating brother. "He needed his mother to clean up his embezzlement. You thought that stopping the audit would save you. But you forgot one crucial detail."
"And what is that?" the Mother asked, crossing her arms defensively.
May you like
"Elena wasn't the only one conducting the audit," Daniel revealed, a dark, dangerous smile touching the corners of his mouth. "She found the discrepancies. But I am the one who verified them. I have the digital backups. I have every single ledger, every hidden account, and every wire transfer you and Marcus made over the last five years."
Marcus let out a pathetic, breathless sob, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor, his face buried in his hands. He knew it was over.
