Chapter 4 - The Woman Who Waited Three Years for Her HusbandNorthbridge Medical Facility looked abandoned.
It wasn't.
Security cameras covered every entrance.
Jack, Marissa, and the mysterious driver entered through a service tunnel.
The driver finally introduced himself.
“David Mercer.”
“Why are you helping us?”
“I worked for Ethan.”
Jack glared.
“Then why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
The answer surprised him.
“Trust the evidence.”
They reached the second floor.
Room 214.
Jack opened the door.
Samantha sat beside the window.
Three years older.
Thinner.
Hair shorter.
But alive.
Jack stopped breathing.
She turned.
Their eyes met.
Then she stood.
“Jack?”
He couldn't move.
She ran to him.
They collided.
She cried into his chest.
He held her like he was afraid she'd disappear again.
“I thought you were dead.”
“I tried to come home.”
“Why didn't you?”
“They wouldn't let me.”
“How?”
“I was watched.”
Jack pulled back.
“Where's Callie?”
Samantha froze.
“She's here.”
Jack smiled through tears.
“She is.”
Samantha whispered:
“Where?”
He turned.
Callie stood in the doorway.
Samantha dropped to her knees.
“My baby.”
Callie hesitated.
Then ran into her arms.
The reunion broke something inside Jack.
He turned away.
He couldn't watch without crying.
They spent two hours talking.
Samantha explained everything.
She had uncovered financial documents proving Ethan was stealing from the Cooper Foundation.
She had copied them.
Ethan discovered what she knew.
He arranged the accident.
But Samantha survived.
Callie survived.
They were hidden.
Samantha had escaped once.
She tried to contact Jack.
Ethan intercepted her.
Eventually she realized he couldn't kill her because he needed the documents.
So she waited.
Three years.
“Why didn't you run?”
“Because he threatened Callie.”
Jack looked at his daughter.
She sat beside Marissa, eating crackers.
“My God.”
Samantha touched Jack's face.
“I saw you.”
“What?”
“From a distance.”
“When?”
“After the funeral.”
Jack's chest tightened.
“You watched me grieve?”
“I had no choice.”
“I buried an empty box.”
“I know.”
“I talked to your photograph.”
“I know.”
Jack broke down.
Samantha held him.
“I'm sorry.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“Don't apologize for surviving.”
Then David entered.
“We have to leave.”
“Why?”
“Ethan found the facility.”
They moved quickly.
Halfway down the hall, alarms began.
Doors locked.
Red lights flashed.
Then Ethan's voice echoed through the speakers.
“You were always stubborn, Samantha.”
She grabbed Callie.
Jack stepped forward.
“You're not taking her.”
Ethan appeared behind the glass.
“I don't need to.”
He held up a document.
“The court just recognized the trust.”
Jack froze.
“What?”
“Callie is officially the controlling beneficiary.”
Samantha's face turned white.
Ethan smiled.
“Come to the headquarters tomorrow morning.”
He looked at Jack.
“Bring your daughter.”
Then he disappeared.
David whispered:
“This isn't over.”
Jack looked at Callie.
Then Samantha.
“No.”
May you like
He shook his head.
“It ends tomorrow.”
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