Chapter 10 - The Midnight Ultimatum
The heavy doors of the black unmarked van slammed shut, plunging Arthur into absolute darkness once again. The vehicle jerked forward violently, tires screeching against the wet asphalt as it sped away from the central precinct and headed toward the sprawling Vance family estate on the outskirts of the city.
Arthur lay bound on the metal floor of the van, his ribs throbbing from the beating in the parking garage. The zip-ties around his wrists were pulled so tight they had cut through his skin, leaving warm blood trickling down his forearms. But despite the physical agony, his mind was razor-sharp. He could still feel the hard contour of the brass key tucked safely inside the inner lining of his suit pocket—the guards had missed it during the frantic scuffle in the puddle.
The van bounced violently as it took a sharp turn, signaling they had left the main highway and entered the private, wooded access roads leading up to the Vance manor. Through the muffled metal walls, Arthur could hear the relentless pounding of the midnight rain.
11:50 PM.
Ten minutes until the board meeting concluded. Ten minutes before Elena and Marcus legally seized complete control of the foundation, erased the remaining evidence of Caroline's existence, and buried Lily forever in the dark.
The van slowed down abruptly, tires crunching over the old gravel driveway. A moment later, the rear doors flew open, and harsh floodlights blinded Arthur.
“Get up,” a gruff voice snapped, grabbing Arthur by the collar of his ruined blue suit and hauling him out onto the wet ground.
Arthur stumbled to his feet, coughing as the cold night air hit his lungs. He found himself standing in the grand cobblestone courtyard of the Vance estate. Towering gothic architecture loomed above them, its dark stone spires piercing the stormy sky like jagged teeth.
Elena stood near the massive front mahogany doors, flanked by two private security guards holding heavy shotguns. Her dark velvet dress was gone, replaced by a sleek, utilitarian black trench coat that made her look like a corporate executioner.
“Welcome home, Arthur,” Elena said, her voice dripping with venomous sarcasm as she stepped closer. “I hope you enjoyed your brief stay at the precinct. Unfortunately, your time as head of this family has officially expired.”
Arthur straightened up, glaring at his wife with pure, unadulterated hatred. “Where is my daughter, Elena? What have you done with Lily?”
Elena let out a cold, chilling laugh. “Oh, the little brat is safe—for now. She’s locked inside the estate's panic room, right above the underground vault. And she will stay there until you do exactly what I tell you to do.”
“And what’s that?” Arthur asked, his voice steady.
“You are going to use that brass key in your pocket to unlock the subterranean vault,” Elena demanded, stepping right up to him, her eyes flashing with desperate greed. “You are going to hand over the original ownership deeds, the offshore account access codes, and every single one of Caroline’s hidden letters. Once you sign the complete waiver transferring all assets to the foundation, I’ll let the girl go.”
Arthur stared at her, a bitter smile touching the corners of his mouth. “You really think I'm stupid enough to believe you? The moment I open that vault, you'll kill both of us and claim we died in a tragic estate fire.”
Elena’s expression darkened instantly. She snapped her fingers, and one of the security guards stepped forward, dragging a small, trembling figure out from the shadows behind them.
It was Lily. Her face was pale, her grey shawl torn at the edges, and tears tracked through the dirt on her cheeks. A heavy hand was clamped roughly over her shoulder, keeping her from running.
“Daddy!” Lily sobbed, her voice breaking through the sound of the pouring rain. “Don't listen to her! She said my mom was a fool, and she's going to do the same thing to us!”
Arthur took a violent step forward, but the guards instantly pressed the barrels of their shotguns against his chest, stopping him dead in his tracks.
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“You have three minutes, Arthur,” Elena hissed, checking her diamond-encrusted wristwatch. The glowing digital display read 11:57 PM. “Open the vault, or watch your daughter pay the ultimate price for your stubbornness.”
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