Chapter 4: The Man Who Sold My Wife
"Daniel, step away from the door.""
My voice sounded unfamiliar, even to me.
Daniel stood between me and the bedroom exit, his hands trembling. Behind him, the electronic lock glowed red. Somewhere downstairs, footsteps crossed the marble floor.
Ava clung to my leg.
"Daddy, I want Mommy.""
I bent down and kissed her forehead.
"I know, sweetheart. I'm going to bring her home.""
Daniel shook his head.
"You don't understand what you're walking into.""
I straightened.
"Then explain it before I make you regret standing in my way.""
He looked at the photograph still lying on the bed.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he reached into his jacket.
I immediately grabbed Ava and stepped backward.
"Don't move.""
Daniel slowly pulled out a small black device.
"It's a security override.""
"Put it down.""
"Marcus, the entire mansion is connected to an external security network. Vanessa has access to everything. The cameras, the locks, the pool controls. Even the emergency generator.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
"Your father installed it. Vanessa inherited the access codes.""
"Why would my father give her control of my house?""
Daniel looked away.
"Because she was never a stranger to your family.""
He pressed a button on the device.
The lock clicked.
I opened the door and immediately looked down the hallway.
Empty.
"Start talking," I ordered.
Daniel followed us into the corridor.
"Six years ago, your father discovered that the first baby had a genetic abnormality. He believed the child could eventually develop a serious neurological condition. Instead of telling you and Elena, he arranged for the baby to be transferred to a private medical facility.""
"Without our permission?""
"Yes.""
"And Vanessa helped him?""
"She was a nurse at the facility. She handled the paperwork.""
I stopped walking.
"Why would a nurse participate in something like that?""
Daniel hesitated.
"Because your father was paying her.""
"How much?""
"Enough to buy a house. Enough to disappear.""
I felt sick.
"And what happened to our son?""
"Elena found out he was alive. She started looking for him.""
"Where is he?""
Daniel looked at me.
"That's what Vanessa knows.""
We reached the staircase.
Downstairs, a woman's voice echoed through the foyer.
"Marcus! I know you're up there!""
Vanessa.
Her voice sounded almost cheerful.
"Please don't make this difficult. We can still talk about tonight.""
I looked at Daniel.
"She's acting as though nothing happened.""
"That's how she operates.""
I descended two steps.
Vanessa appeared at the bottom of the staircase.
She had changed out of her champagne dress. She now wore black trousers and a white blouse. Her hair was pulled tightly behind her head.
In her right hand was a small remote control.
"Marcus," she said gently.
"Give me the key.""
I instinctively closed my fist around the brass key in my pocket.
"No.""
Her smile disappeared.
"Don't be stupid.""
"Where is my wife?""
Vanessa sighed.
"Your wife is exactly where she belongs.""
Ava pressed her face against my shoulder.
I felt my entire body tense.
"Don't talk about Elena.""
Vanessa looked at my daughter.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Ava shook her head.
"You're a bad lady.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Your mother taught you to say that?""
"She said you stole my brother.""
For the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely angry.
"Your mother should have kept her mouth shut.""
I started down the remaining stairs.
"One more word about my daughter, and I swear—"
"Or what?"" Vanessa interrupted.
She raised the remote.
The lights in the hallway went out.
A mechanical click echoed from somewhere beneath the floor.
Then the mansion's emergency shutters began closing.
Metal panels slammed over the windows.
Ava screamed.
Daniel grabbed my shoulder.
"She's sealing the house!""
Vanessa stepped backward toward the wine cellar entrance.
"You have ten minutes to give me the key. After that, the lower chamber will flood.""
My blood ran cold.
"There's a person down there!""
She tilted her head.
"Is there?""
I lunged toward her.
But she pressed another button.
A heavy security door dropped between us.
The steel barrier crashed into the floor, separating us from the foyer.
"Vanessa!""
Her voice came through the intercom.
"Marcus, you should have accepted my proposal. You would have had a beautiful new wife, your daughter would have had a mother, and everyone could have forgotten Elena.""
I struck the steel door.
"YOU'RE NOT LEAVING THIS HOUSE!""
Her laughter echoed through the speakers.
"Actually, I already have.""
Then silence.
Daniel pulled me away.
"We need another route.""
I turned toward him.
"You knew she could do this?""
"Yes.""
"And you still brought her into my house?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"I was trying to keep you alive.""
I grabbed his collar.
"By delivering my wife to her?""
Daniel didn't resist.
"I made a terrible mistake.""
I shoved him away.
"Where is the wine cellar?""
He pointed toward a narrow hallway.
"Behind the kitchen.""
We ran.
The mansion's lights flickered as the emergency system activated. Somewhere beneath us, pumps began roaring.
When we reached the wine cellar, I saw a heavy oak door standing slightly open.
Inside, rows of expensive bottles lined the walls.
Daniel moved toward the far corner.
"Your father had a second entrance built behind the shelving.""
He pulled a bottle from the rack.
A mechanical sound followed.
The entire shelf slid sideways.
Behind it was a narrow concrete staircase descending into darkness.
Ava looked down.
"Mommy is down there.""
I squeezed her hand.
"How do you know?""
"Because I can hear her.""
I listened.
At first, there was only the sound of machinery.
Then three faint knocks.
I grabbed the flashlight from a nearby cabinet and descended.
The air grew colder with every step.
At the bottom stood a steel door with a keypad.
I inserted the brass key into a small lock beneath it.
The door opened.
Beyond it was a narrow corridor lined with security cameras.
And at the end stood a glass observation room.
Inside was a woman sitting in a metal chair.
Her blonde hair hung over her shoulders.
Her face was thinner than I remembered.
But I knew her.
I knew the shape of her hands.
The way she held her head when she was tired.
The small scar above her left eyebrow.
Elena.
My wife.
Alive.
I stumbled toward the glass.
"Elena!""
Her head lifted.
Her eyes widened.
Then she stood so quickly that her chair fell backward.
"Marcus?""
I pressed both hands against the glass.
"Baby...""
She rushed toward me.
We stared at each other through the barrier, separated by fourteen months of lies.
Then she began crying.
"You're really here.""
I looked for a handle.
"How do I open this?""
"There's a control panel beside the door!""
Daniel appeared behind me.
"Marcus, wait.""
I turned.
He was holding a pistol.
My stomach dropped.
"Daniel?""
He looked at Elena through the glass.
"I'm sorry.""
Elena immediately backed away.
"Marcus, don't let him touch the panel!""
Daniel raised the weapon.
"Step away from the door.""
I stared at my best friend.
The man who had stood beside me at my wedding.
The man who had helped me bury an empty coffin.
The man who had held me while I cried.
"Tell me you didn't do this.""
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't have a choice.""
Elena struck the glass.
"He's lying!""
Daniel aimed the gun at me.
Then he said quietly:
"Your father ordered me to make sure Elena never left that room.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Why?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Because the person who paid for this operation wasn't your father.""
May you like
He swallowed.
"It was you.""
