Chapter 4 - THE MAN WHO NEVER LEFT
The darkness lasted only a few seconds.
But those seconds were enough for panic to spread through the building.
The soldiers moved into formation.
My father pulled me behind him.
Daniel stood beside me.
Then we heard footsteps.
Slow.
Calm.
Coming from the hallway.
Evan appeared beneath the emergency lights.
He was wearing a dark coat.
There was blood on his sleeve.
But he was smiling.
My father raised his weapon.
“Stop.”
Evan stopped.
His eyes went directly to me.
“You look tired.”
I said nothing.
My father stepped forward.
“You’re under arrest.”
Evan laughed.
“You don’t have the authority.”
“I have enough authority.”
“No, Richard. You have old authority.”
My father’s expression didn't change.
Evan looked at Daniel.
Then at my mother.
Finally, back at me.
“I told you not to trust him.”
I stared at him.
“You kidnapped him.”
“He was interfering.”
“You tried to kill him.”
“I tried to protect my family.”
I laughed.
“Your family?”
Evan’s eyes hardened.
“You are my wife.”
“Not anymore.”
The words surprised even me.
Evan's smile disappeared.
My father stepped closer.
“Put your hands where I can see them.”
Evan didn't move.
Instead, he looked at my mother.
“You should tell her what happened in the hospital.”
My mother began shaking.
I turned toward her.
“What happened?”
Evan smiled.
“Ask her why your medical records disappeared.”
My mother closed her eyes.
My father looked at her.
“Tell us.”
She whispered:
“The test.”
“What test?”
“The paternity test.”
My stomach dropped.
My mother continued.
“Evan ordered one.”
I stared at her.
“When?”
“Before you knew you were pregnant.”
I looked at Daniel.
He was staring at me.
My mother continued:
“The results showed Daniel was the father.”
The room went silent.
Evan smiled.
“I knew.”
My father looked at him.
“And you still married her?”
Evan looked at me.
“Of course.”
My father’s voice became dangerous.
“Why?”
Evan answered without hesitation.
“Because the child was valuable.”
I felt as if someone had struck me.
My father raised his weapon.
Evan laughed.
“Go ahead.”
My father didn't fire.
Evan continued.
“Emily’s inheritance was placed in a trust. But if she died before the child was born, the money would pass to the child.”
My father understood.
“You planned to become the child's guardian.”
“Exactly.”
My mother covered her face.
I stared at Evan.
“You were going to kill me.”
“Eventually.”
The word was so calm that I felt sick.
“Why did you hurt me?”
“Because fear makes people obedient.”
My father stepped toward him.
Evan suddenly pulled a remote control from his pocket.
A red light blinked.
“Take one more step.”
My father stopped.
“What is that?”
“An insurance policy.”
Daniel whispered:
“Bomb.”
The soldiers immediately moved.
Evan smiled.
“Not a bomb.”
He pressed the button.
A screen appeared on the wall.
It showed my bedroom.
My bed.
My blanket.
My father’s face changed.
The screen showed another room.
A hospital.
Then a woman in a white coat.
My mother gasped.
I recognized her.
She was the doctor who had treated me during my pregnancy.
Evan's voice was calm.
“Dr. Hayes has been working for me.”
My father looked at my mother.
“What is happening?”
Evan pressed another button.
The doctor appeared on screen.
She was crying.
Evan said:
“Tell Emily what you did.”
The doctor looked into the camera.
“I’m sorry.”
My heart began pounding.
“What did you do?”
The doctor whispered:
“The medication.”
My mother began sobbing.
“What medication?”
The doctor looked terrified.
“Evan ordered me to give Emily medication that would cause complications.”
I touched my stomach.
My father grabbed me.
“Are you all right?”
The doctor continued.
“I refused.”
Evan looked toward the screen.
“And then?”
The doctor began crying.
“He threatened my daughter.”
I felt dizzy.
“What medication?”
The doctor hesitated.
“Something that could cause premature labor.”
My father’s face became murderous.
Evan smiled.
“But she survived.”
I looked at him.
“You tried to make me lose my baby.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if the baby died, you would have broken.”
He said it like a business decision.
“You would have signed anything.”
My father stepped forward.
Evan pressed the button again.
This time, the screen showed a man.
He was standing in a hospital corridor.
I recognized him.
Daniel.
But the video was from seven months earlier.
Daniel was speaking to Evan.
“You leave her alone.”
Evan smiled.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Evan leaned closer.
“You think she loves you?”
Daniel looked toward the camera.
“I know she does.”
Evan’s expression became cold.
“Then I’ll make sure she hates you.”
The video ended.
Daniel looked at me.
“I tried to come to you.”
“I know.”
“Evan intercepted everything.”
My father looked at Evan.
“You built this entire operation.”
Evan nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why confess?”
Evan smiled.
“Because you still think this is over.”
He pressed the remote.
A new video appeared.
It showed a woman.
She was sitting in a dark room.
Her face was older.
Her hair was gray.
She looked directly at the camera.
My mother screamed.
“Claire.”
The woman on the screen whispered:
“Emily.”
I stared.
Claire.
Evan's first wife.
The woman everyone believed was dead.
She was alive.
And she had one message.
May you like
“Your husband is not the real enemy.”
The screen went black.
