Chapter 14 – The Second Attempt
Chapter 14 – The Second Attempt
The first attempt failed.
That was the mistake everyone made.
They believed failure meant the danger had passed.
They believed because Bridget Lawson survived the fall, the worst was over.
They were wrong.
People who are desperate do not stop after losing once.
They adapt.
They become quieter.
Smarter.
More patient.
And the most dangerous enemies are not the ones who attack openly.
They are the ones who wait until everyone believes they are safe.
Three days after the terrace incident, Bridget Lawson was moved to a private recovery floor.
The hospital increased security.
Visitors were restricted.
Every entrance was monitored.
Every employee was checked.
But Sarah Chen still felt uneasy.
She stood outside Bridget's room watching the hallway.
Something bothered her.
Something she couldn't explain.
Detective Michael Grant approached.
"You haven't slept."
Sarah didn't look away.
"Neither have you."
Grant smiled slightly.
"Fair point."
They both knew the truth.
The case had become bigger than a crime investigation.
It had become a battle between people who had spent decades hiding secrets.
Inside the room, Bridget was recovering.
Her injuries were severe.
But her mind was clearer than ever.
Sarah entered.
"How are you feeling?"
Bridget smiled weakly.
"Like I survived something I wasn't supposed to."
Sarah sat down.
"Do you remember the balcony?"
Bridget looked away.
"Every second."
"Do you remember Victoria?"
A pause.
Bridget's expression changed.
"Yes."
Sarah noticed.
"You knew she was involved."
Bridget nodded.
"I always knew Victoria was hiding something."
"Why trust her?"
Bridget gave a sad smile.
"Because sometimes the person who saves you is also the person who hurts you."
Before Sarah could ask more...
The heart monitor beside Bridget suddenly changed.
A warning alarm sounded.
Sarah immediately stood.
"What's happening?"
Bridget looked confused.
"I don't know."
The nurse rushed in.
Then another.
The room became chaotic.
Sarah stepped back.
And noticed something.
The IV line.
She looked closely.
"Stop."
Everyone froze.
"Don't touch that."
The nurse looked confused.
"Why?"
Sarah pointed.
"The seal is broken."
The room went silent.
The medication bag had been tampered with.
Again.
Security arrived within minutes.
The hospital went into lockdown.
Grant entered.
"What happened?"
Sarah looked at him.
"Someone tried again."
His expression hardened.
"Who?"
"We don't know."
But this time...
There was evidence.
A fingerprint.
Not on the medication.
Not on the door.
On the inside of Bridget's room window.
Someone had entered without opening the door.
Grant looked at the glass.
"Impossible."
Sarah shook her head.
"No."
She touched the window frame.
"It's exactly how they wanted us to think."
The hospital window faced the city.
Thirty floors above the street.
No balcony.
No external access.
Everyone assumed the window was impossible.
But Sarah noticed something.
A small scratch.
Fresh.
"The window was opened."
Grant looked shocked.
"From outside?"
Sarah shook her head.
"From inside."
The attacker had already been in the room.
They reviewed hospital records.
The list of people who entered Bridget's room that day.
Doctors.
Nurses.
Security.
Visitors.
One name appeared.
Dr. Victoria Hale.
The room became silent.
Grant stared at the record.
"Victoria visited her?"
Sarah nodded.
"Two hours before the attempt."
They immediately searched for Victoria.
She was gone.
Her office.
Empty.
Her home.
Empty.
Her phone.
Disconnected.
But she left one thing behind.
A letter.
It was addressed to Sarah.
Sarah opened it carefully.
You finally understand.
Good.
But you still misunderstand one thing.
I never wanted Bridget dead.
Sarah continued reading.
I wanted the truth to survive.
Grant frowned.
"She's claiming she was protecting Bridget?"
Sarah kept reading.
Alexander Vale destroys everything he touches.
Richard tried to stop him.
Tyler tried to stop him.
Bridget tried to stop him.
A pause.
All of them failed.
Then the final paragraph.
So I created a situation where Alexander would have no choice but to reveal himself.
Sarah looked up.
"She planned the fall."
Grant nodded.
"But why attack Bridget afterward?"
Sarah continued reading.
The final sentence answered.
Because Bridget knew the one truth I needed hidden.
Everyone froze.
"What truth?"
Grant asked.
Sarah looked at the letter.
The answer was missing.
Then another page slipped out.
A photograph.
It showed Victoria.
Bridget.
And a newborn baby.
On the back:
The child Alexander never knew existed.
Grant stared.
"Another child?"
Sarah looked at the photograph.
"No."
She recognized the baby.
Her face changed.
"That's not another child."
"What?"
Sarah whispered:
"That's Lily."
The room went silent.
The truth became impossible.
Victoria had not only known Lily's identity.
She had been there when Lily was born.
But why hide it?
And what truth did Bridget know that could destroy Victoria?
Meanwhile, across the city...
Victoria Hale entered an abandoned building.
Inside waited Alexander Vale.
He looked calm.
Almost amused.
"You finally ran out of places to hide."
Victoria placed a file on the table.
"I didn't hide."
Alexander smiled.
"You betrayed me."
Victoria looked at him.
"No."
She opened the file.
"I betrayed the lie."
Alexander looked inside.
His confidence disappeared.
For the first time...
He looked afraid.
Because the file contained something he never expected.
A DNA report.
Not Lily's.
His.
And the truth was written clearly.
Alexander Vale was not Lily's father.
He looked at Victoria.
"Who is she?"
Victoria answered quietly.
"The daughter of the man you destroyed."
Alexander's face changed.
"Richard..."
Victoria nodded.
"And now everyone will know."
But before Alexander could respond...
A sound came from the doorway.
Someone else was there.
A voice spoke.
"You should have told me sooner."
Everyone turned.
Lily stood there.
And she had heard everything.
The second attempt had failed.
Bridget was alive.
The truth was escaping.
But the final secret...
The one Victoria had protected for decades...
Was finally standing in the room.
Lily looked at Alexander.
"Tell me the truth."
Alexander said nothing.
Because for the first time in his life...
The man who controlled everyone...
May you like
Had no lie left.
End of Chapter 14
