Chapter 8 - The Night Eleanor Disappeared Again
Eleanor vanished on a Thursday.
Theo was at school.
Adrian was in a board meeting.
The security alarm never sounded.
No camera caught anything.
Her phone remained on the kitchen counter.
Her coat remained by the door.
Only one thing was missing.
The old wedding ring.
Adrian nearly destroyed the room when he realized she had taken it.
Marcus stopped him.
“Think.”
“I am thinking.”
“No. You're panicking.”
Adrian turned.
“She disappeared once.”
“She came back.”
“I can't lose her again.”
Marcus placed a file on the table.
“We found this.”
Inside was a photograph of Eleanor entering a small church.
Behind her walked Clara.
Adrian called Clara.
No answer.
Then Theo entered the room.
“Dad?”
Adrian knelt.
“We're going to find Mom.”
“Is she hurt?”
“No.”
He didn't know whether that was true.
Theo stared at him.
“You promise?”
Adrian froze.
Then he nodded.
“I promise.”
They drove to the church.
Inside, Adrian found Eleanor.
She was sitting alone.
Clara was nowhere.
Adrian rushed toward her.
Eleanor stood.
“I’m sorry.”
He grabbed her shoulders.
“Where were you?”
“I met someone.”
“Who?”
She held up the wedding ring.
“Vivian.”
Adrian went cold.
“What did she want?”
“She offered me a deal.”
“No.”
“She said if I didn't come alone, she would release documents proving that you had hidden criminal assets.”
Adrian stared.
“She threatened you.”
“Yes.”
“She touched you?”
“No.”
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
Eleanor sat.
“She told me something else.”
“What?”
“She wasn't trying to take Theo.”
Adrian frowned.
“She was trying to make us hate each other.”
Eleanor placed an envelope on the table.
Inside were forged photographs.
Adrian with Vivian.
Eleanor with another man.
Messages.
Bank transfers.
Everything designed to recreate the lies from seven years earlier.
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“They're terrible.”
Eleanor smiled through tears.
“We've become harder to fool.”
They hugged.
Then a slow clap echoed from the doorway.
Vivian entered.
She held a gun.
“You always were difficult, Eleanor.”
Adrian stepped in front of her.
“Put it down.”
Vivian shook her head.
“You ruined everything.”
“No.”
“You took Jonathan from me.”
“Jonathan betrayed both of us.”
“You destroyed my life.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You helped destroy mine.”
Vivian aimed at Eleanor.
Theo's small voice came from outside.
“Mom!”
Eleanor froze.
Adrian turned.
Theo had followed them.
“Get down!”
A shot rang out.
Adrian shoved Eleanor aside.
The bullet struck his shoulder.
Theo screamed.
Vivian dropped her gun.
She looked horrified.
“I didn't mean—”
Police stormed the church.
Vivian was arrested.
Adrian collapsed into Eleanor's arms.
She pressed a hand against his wound.
“Stay with me.”
He smiled weakly.
“I promised.”
“What?”
“I promised I'd come home.”
She kissed his forehead.
“You'd better.”
Hours later, Adrian woke in the hospital.
Theo slept beside him.
Eleanor sat in the chair.
He whispered.
“You stayed.”
May you like
She smiled.
“I'm done running.”
