Chapter 5 - The Bride Who Was Taken
The house erupted into chaos.
Security teams searched every room.
Arthur ran toward the nursery they had prepared for the baby.
Empty.
The window was open.
A piece of Chloe's coat hung from the latch.
Arthur's face became terrifyingly calm.
“Lock the city.”
Leo stared at him.
“You can't.”
“Watch me.”
Then Arthur's phone rang.
A woman's voice spoke.
“Hello, Arthur.”
Arthur knew it immediately.
“Evelyn.”
A soft laugh.
“So you remembered.”
“Where is Chloe?”
“Safe.”
“If you touch her—”
“I don't intend to.”
A pause.
“I want something.”
“The files.”
“Exactly.”
Arthur looked at Leo.
“You have them?”
Leo nodded.
“They aren't here.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“Then perhaps Chloe will become less comfortable.”
A cry sounded in the background.
Arthur's fingers tightened around the phone.
“Don't hurt her.”
“I won't.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Come to the abandoned hotel on Wabash.”
“Alone.”
Arthur's voice became cold.
“I won't.”
“You will.”
The call ended.
Leo stepped forward.
“I'll go.”
Arthur shook his head.
“No.”
“Arthur—”
“You betrayed me once.”
Leo swallowed.
“You're right.”
Arthur looked at him.
“But you're still my brother.”
Leo's eyes filled with tears.
“Let me fix it.”
Arthur nodded.
They went together.
The abandoned hotel was dark.
Rain hammered the broken windows.
Inside, Chloe sat tied to a chair.
But she was not alone.
Vivien stood behind her.
Arthur raised his weapon.
“Step away from my wife.”
Vivien smiled.
“You called her your wife.”
Arthur didn't respond.
Chloe looked at him.
“Arthur, don't give them the files.”
Vivien pressed a gun against the table.
“That's exactly what I came to tell him.”
Arthur stared.
“You're working with Evelyn.”
“No.”
Vivien laughed bitterly.
“She destroyed my life too.”
Arthur lowered his weapon slightly.
“What?”
“My mother killed my father.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Malcolm wasn't the mastermind.”
Vivien looked at Chloe.
“Evelyn was.”
“She used Malcolm.”
“She used everyone.”
Vivien's voice shook.
“She arranged the murder of Arthur's father.”
Arthur stared.
“Why?”
“Because your father was going to expose her.”
Chloe looked at her.
“And my mother?”
“Your mother discovered everything.”
“She killed her too.”
Vivien nodded.
“But before she died, your mother sent the records to someone.”
“Who?”
Vivien looked at Chloe's stomach.
“The baby's father.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your father knew the child existed.”
“No.”
“He believed the baby would inherit everything he owned.”
Arthur stared at her.
“My father knew Chloe?”
“No.”
“He knew your mother.”
Chloe's breath caught.
“My mother was involved with your family.”
“Yes.”
“Before she married my father.”
“Yes.”
Vivien's eyes lowered.
“Your mother loved Arthur's father.”
Arthur went rigid.
A relationship between their parents.
A hidden connection.
A reason Chloe's family had been tied to the Romano family long before Chloe met Arthur.
Evelyn had destroyed it.
Arthur's father had paid for it.
And Chloe's mother had died protecting the truth.
Then the lights came on.
Evelyn Croft stepped from the shadows.
Older.
Elegant.
Alive.
She smiled.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
Arthur raised his weapon.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“Let Chloe go.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“She was never my target.”
“Then who?”
“You.”
A gunshot exploded.
Leo threw himself in front of Arthur.
Blood appeared on his chest.
“Leo!”
He fell.
The room became chaos.
Vivien grabbed Chloe.
Arthur fired back.
Evelyn escaped through a side door.
Chloe crawled to Leo.
“Stay with us.”
Leo coughed.
“I’m fine.”
“You're bleeding!”
“So is everyone in this family.”
Arthur looked at him.
“You saved me.”
Leo smiled weakly.
“Second time.”
Police sirens approached.
But Evelyn was gone.
And Chloe suddenly felt a sharp pain.
She clutched her stomach.
Arthur turned pale.
May you like
“What?”
“My baby.”
