Chapter 6 - Shattered Glass Downstairs
The sound of shattering glass tore through the silence of the luxury estate, followed immediately by the blaring shriek of the home security alarm. Maya gasped, pulling little Leo tightly against her chest as Marcus cursed under his breath, dropping his phone onto the nursery floor. The polished hardwood beneath their feet vibrated with the heavy thud of boots moving swiftly through the foyer downstairs.
“Stay here, lock this door behind me, and do not open it for anyone except me,” Marcus ordered, his voice dropping into full commander mode as he rushed toward the hallway.
“Marcus, wait! It could be a trap set by your mother!” Maya cried out, reaching out a hand to stop him, but he was already gone, disappearing down the dimly lit staircase into the heart of the darkened house.
Maya locked the nursery door with shaking fingers, leaning her back against the wood as little Leo began to cry in earnest, overwhelmed by the flashing red security lights outside the window. The house was dead quiet except for the pulsing wail of the alarm and the distant sound of muffled voices arguing in the grand entrance hall below. She paced the length of the nursery, her mind racing through every possible scenario, realizing that Eleanor’s web of control was far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.
Minutes stretched into an eternity before the heavy footsteps began ascending the stairs, moving much too slowly for comfort.
“Marcus?” Maya called out softly toward the locked door, pressing her ear against the grain. “Marcus, answer me! Who is down there?”
The footsteps stopped right outside the nursery door, followed by a heavy, metallic scrape against the wood frame.
“It’s not Marcus, darling,” a smooth, unfamiliar voice purred from the other side, sending an icy chill straight down Maya’s spine. “The master of the house is currently indisposed in his study.”
Maya stumbled backward, dropping a heavy oak toy chest in front of the door to barricade it as panic threatened to paralyze her limbs.
“Who are you? What do you want?” Maya shouted, holding Leo so tight the baby began to wail loudly.
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“We just want to talk about the missing ledger,” the voice replied smoothly, as a heavy crowbar slid into the gap beneath the door frame and began to pry the lock apart.
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