Chapter 14
612words
"Because you're very brave and smart," I said gently. "And because someone seems very worried about what you might say."
She leaned closer, whispering, "I saw his face. The man who shot Mommy and Daddy. He took off his mask when he thought I was hiding. But I peeked."
"Did you recognize him?" I asked, my heart racing.
She nodded solemnly. "He was on TV with the mayor. Daddy called him 'the money man.' He has white hair and scary eyes."
A chill ran through me. White hair. Scary eyes. Victor Carter.
"Lily, this is very important," I said, keeping my voice calm despite my racing heart. "Have you told anyone else what you just told me?"
She shook her head. "Just my rabbit. I was scared."
"You're very brave," I assured her. "Now, I need you to keep being brave. I'm going to make sure you don't have to go to that new hospital, but I need a little time. Can you be brave for me?"
She nodded, clutching her rabbit tighter.
I left Lily's room with my mind racing. If Victor Carter was involved in the murder of Lily's parents, it explained everything—the threats, the accident, the rushed transfer. I needed evidence, and I needed to keep Lily safe.
As I hurried toward the elevator, my phone buzzed with a text from Nathan:
Where are you? We need to talk about Rebecca.
I ignored it, stepping into the elevator. As the doors began to close, a hand shot out to stop them. Nathan pushed his way in, his face a mask of concern and something else—guilt.
"Olivia," he said, his voice strained. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Stay away from me," I warned, pressing myself against the elevator wall.
"Please, let me explain. Whatever Rebecca told you—"
"Is it true?" I cut him off, my voice breaking. "Are you the father of her baby?"
The color drained from his face. "She told you she's pregnant?"
"Answer the question, Nathan."
He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of distress I'd seen countless times during our marriage. "It's complicated."
"It's a yes or no question," I said coldly. "Did you sleep with my sister while I was losing our baby?"
The elevator stopped, the doors opening on the main floor. Neither of us moved.
"Yes," he finally said, his voice barely audible. "But it's not what you think. I was drugged. I didn't know—"
A sharp pain shot through my abdomen, cutting off his words. I gasped, doubling over.
"Olivia?" Nathan reached for me, alarm replacing guilt on his face. "What's wrong?"
The pain intensified, and I felt a warm wetness between my legs. I looked down in horror to see blood soaking through my pants.
Nathan caught me as I collapsed, shouting for help. The world began to blur around the edges, sounds becoming distant and muffled.
The last thing I heard before darkness claimed me was Nathan's voice, desperate and afraid:
"Stay with me, Liv. Please stay with me."
I floated in darkness, disconnected from pain, from time, from the betrayals that had shattered my world. Voices drifted in and out—urgent medical commands, Nathan's pleading, someone crying.
Images flashed behind my closed eyelids: the baby I never got to hold, Nathan and Rebecca together, Lily's frightened face, Victor Carter's cold eyes. They swirled together in a kaleidoscope of pain and loss.
Then a different image formed—a memory from the early days of our marriage. Nathan and I on the balcony of our honeymoon suite, watching the Mediterranean sunset. His arms around me, his lips against my hair.
