Chapter 8
The phone rang continuously, its harsh electronic chime bouncing off the white walls of the foyer. Neither Elena nor David moved. They stood locked in a standoff at the top of the stairs, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.
David’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and cursed under his breath. "Who is calling the landline at this hour?"
"Maybe it's the police," Elena said defiantly, though her heart was pounding against her ribs.
David glared at her, his jaw tight, before turning and striding down the stairs to answer the wall-mounted phone in the kitchen. Elena didn't hesitate. She turned and sprinted down the hallway toward the nursery, bursting through the door and rushing to the crib. Lily was still asleep, her chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. Elena scooped her up gently, cradling the baby against her shoulder.
She needed to get out of the house. Now.
As Elena reached the nursery doorway, David appeared at the top of the stairs, blocking her path. He wasn't holding his phone anymore. His face was pale, his expression twisted in a mix of fury and genuine panic.
"Who was it?" Elena demanded, shifting Lily securely in her arms and stepping back.
"It wasn't the police," David said, his voice tight. "It was Sarah."
Elena stopped, her eyes narrowing. "Sarah? Why would she call you?"
"She didn't call to chat," David spat, running a hand through his short brown hair. "She went straight to the police precinct after you fired her. She told them everything about my instructions. The cops are reviewing the agency records right now. They'll be here within twenty minutes."
A wave of profound relief washed over Elena, instantly followed by a surge of adrenaline. "Good. Let them come."
"Are you insane?" David hissed, taking a step toward her. "If the police get their hands on those files, I’m ruined. My career is over, and I’m looking at prison time for child endangerment and fraud. Do you think that looks good for you? You'll be tied up in legal battles for years, our assets frozen, our lives destroyed!"
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"Your life is destroyed, David. You did this to yourself," Elena said, her voice steady and resolute. She clutched Lily tighter, backing away down the secondary hallway that led to the garage exit. "I'm not protecting you anymore."
David lunged forward with terrifying speed, abandoning all pretense of negotiation.
