Chapter 2: The Bride Who Ran Too Fast
Chapter 2: The Bride Who Ran Too Fast
Claire Bennett appeared at the bottom of the cellar stairs, breathing hard.
Her smile vanished the instant she saw Mia sitting on the floor with Harper in her arms.
The color drained from her face.
For one brief second, pure panic flashed across her eyes.
Then she forced herself to look horrified.
"Oh my God!"
"Mia!"
"What happened to you?"
She rushed forward.
Dominic stepped directly into her path.
She stopped so suddenly that she nearly stumbled into him.
Her expression softened.
"Dominic..."
"I had no idea."
His voice remained calm.
"Really?"
Claire swallowed.
"Of course not."
"I thought she left for Pennsylvania."
"That's what Nathan told me."
Nathan looked at her.
Claire immediately realized her mistake.
She had shifted the blame too quickly.
Nathan answered without changing his expression.
"No."
"You said Mia needed emergency leave."
Claire forced a laugh.
"I... I meant we both talked about it."
Dominic watched them carefully.
Neither of them realized they had already contradicted each other.
That was enough.
Not proof.
But enough to make him suspicious.
Dr. Ellis hurried into the cellar carrying two emergency cases.
He dropped beside Mia without asking questions.
His experienced hands examined the bruises.
He checked her pulse.
Then her pupils.
Finally, he looked up at Dominic.
"She needs a hospital."
Dominic shook his head.
"Treat her here."
Dr. Ellis understood immediately.
He opened an IV bag and began inserting a needle into Mia's arm.
Harper refused to move.
She held her mother's hand so tightly that her tiny fingers turned white.
Mia smiled weakly.
"I'm okay, sweetheart."
Harper shook her head.
"No."
"They hurt you."
Mia kissed her forehead.
"They won't ever hurt me again."
Dominic heard every word.
He silently promised himself she would be right.
Dr. Ellis carefully examined Mia's wrists.
"The bruises are recent."
He frowned.
"But these older marks..."
He looked closer.
"...they're nearly a week old."
Dominic looked at Mia.
"You've been held longer than three days."
Mia closed her eyes.
"Six."
The room froze.
Dominic spoke slowly.
"Six days?"
She nodded.
"They locked me here the morning after you left."
Dominic's fists tightened.
"They planned this from the beginning."
Claire folded her arms.
"This is ridiculous."
"She's confused."
"She probably hit her head."
Mia suddenly looked directly at Claire.
"No."
"I remember everything."
Claire's confidence cracked.
"What exactly do you remember?"
Mia answered without hesitation.
"You offered me money."
Claire's breathing stopped.
"You said if I disappeared quietly..."
"...your marriage would finally be perfect."
Nathan interrupted.
"That's enough."
"No one should question her until she's stable."
Dominic ignored him.
"What money?"
Mia slowly reached beneath the blanket Dr. Ellis had placed over her.
Her fingers disappeared into the torn lining of her uniform.
She pulled out a folded check.
The paper was stained with dirt and dried blood.
Dominic unfolded it.
One hundred thousand dollars.
Payable to Mia Carter.
Signed by Claire Bennett.
The memo line read:
For your new beginning.
Claire's face turned ghost white.
"That's..."
"I can explain."
Dominic looked up.
"I'm listening."
Claire took one careful breath.
"I wanted to help her."
"She always complained about money."
"I thought she deserved a better life."
Mia laughed bitterly.
The sound echoed through the cellar.
"Tell him the rest."
Claire didn't answer.
Mia continued.
"You told me no one would believe a maid over a future wife."
"You said rich people always protect each other."
Claire's hands began shaking.
"I never said that."
"You did."
"You looked me in the eyes."
"You smiled."
"And then Nathan grabbed me from behind."
Every head turned toward Nathan.
His jaw tightened.
"She's lying."
Mia slowly raised her sleeve.
Dark fingerprints circled her upper arm.
"I fought you."
"You left bruises."
Nathan didn't move.
Dominic stared at the marks.
Then at Nathan's hands.
The size matched perfectly.
No one spoke.
Finally, Marcus broke the silence.
"Boss."
Dominic looked at him.
Marcus held up something he had found near the broken ropes.
A gold cufflink.
Engraved with the letters N.C.
Nathan instinctively touched his shirt sleeve.
One cufflink was missing.
The air seemed to leave the room all at once.
Nathan slowly smiled.
Not warmly.
Not nervously.
Coldly.
"I guess pretending is over."
Daniel instantly drew his pistol.
Marcus did the same.
Claire stepped backward.
Nathan didn't flinch.
Instead, he calmly loosened the collar of his shirt.
"I warned you not to open that door, Dominic."
Dominic's voice was ice.
"Why?"
Nathan looked straight into his oldest friend's eyes.
"Because some secrets..."
"...destroy families."
Before anyone could react, every light inside the cellar suddenly went out.
Darkness swallowed the room.
A single gunshot exploded through the silence.
Harper screamed.
May you like
Someone hit the floor.
Then another shot echoed beneath the mansion.
