Chapter 9 — The Trap
Chapter 9 — The Trap
The child cried again.
One sharp, frightened sound.
Then silence.
Olivia stood completely still.
Her eyes remained fixed on Elizabeth.
“Who is that?”
Elizabeth didn't answer.
“Mom.”
Nothing.
“Who is crying?”
Elizabeth looked toward the dark corridor behind her.
Then back at Olivia.
“You shouldn't have come.”
Olivia's voice trembled.
“You told me to.”
“I told Arthur to come alone.”
“You knew I would follow.”
“Yes.”
“Then why?”
Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I needed to know whether he would finally choose you.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“Elizabeth.”
She flinched.
“Don't.”
He stopped.
Fourteen years disappeared between them in a single breath.
Arthur looked older than Olivia had ever seen him.
Not powerful.
Not controlled.
Just a man standing in front of the woman he had believed dead.
“You're alive.”
Elizabeth smiled bitterly.
“So are you.”
“I searched for you.”
“No.”
Arthur's jaw tightened.
“I did.”
“You searched for the woman you wanted me to be.”
“I never stopped loving you.”
“You never stopped controlling everything around me.”
Olivia looked between them.
“What happened?”
Neither answered.
The child cried again.
This time, Olivia turned toward the sound.
“I want to see who that is.”
Elizabeth stepped in front of the corridor.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because once you see her, there is no going back.”
Olivia's heart began pounding.
“Her?”
Elizabeth closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Victor moved closer.
“Who is she?”
Elizabeth looked at him.
For the first time, her expression softened.
“You don't recognize me.”
Victor frowned.
“Should I?”
“No.”
She studied his face.
“You were only a baby when I last saw you.”
Victor went pale.
“What?”
Arthur immediately stepped forward.
“Elizabeth, enough.”
She turned toward him.
“You've had fourteen years.”
Her voice sharpened.
“Let her know.”
Arthur said nothing.
Elizabeth looked at Olivia.
“The truth is why I disappeared.”
“Tell me.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the people who are listening want you to hear the wrong truth.”
Olivia frowned.
“Who's listening?”
Elizabeth looked toward the ceiling.
Then toward the walls.
“Everyone.”
At that exact moment, a red light appeared on a security monitor inside the building.
Someone was watching.
Someone who had been waiting.
Someone who knew Olivia had arrived.
A figure sat in a dark room several miles away.
On the screen were four camera feeds.
Blackwater entrance.
Main corridor.
Basement.
And the room where Elizabeth stood.
The figure smiled.
“Good.”
A second person stood behind him.
“She's here.”
“Yes.”
“And Arthur?”
“Too.”
“And Victor?”
The figure smiled.
“Exactly where we need him.”
Inside Blackwater, Olivia refused to move.
“You're telling me people are listening.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Elizabeth shook her head.
“I don't know all of them.”
“But you know some.”
“Yes.”
“Richard?”
“Yes.”
“Eleanor?”
Elizabeth hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Victor's father?”
“No.”
Olivia frowned.
“Then who?”
Elizabeth looked toward Victor.
“His father is one of the reasons this began.”
Victor's face hardened.
“Daniel?”
Elizabeth nodded.
Victor stepped closer.
“My father was your ally.”
“Yes.”
“My mother said he was dead.”
“She lied.”
“Why?”
Elizabeth looked at Arthur.
“Because she was afraid.”
Victor laughed bitterly.
“Everyone is afraid.”
Elizabeth's eyes softened.
“You should be.”
Victor stared at her.
“Of what?”
“Of the person who benefits from your fear.”
Olivia looked at Arthur.
“What aren't you telling me?”
Arthur remained silent.
“Dad.”
He looked at her.
“There are things I wanted to protect you from.”
“I don't need protection.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Olivia's voice hardened.
“You don't know.”
She stepped closer.
“You decided what I could handle.”
“Yes.”
“You decided what I should know.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me marry Victor.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“You knew what he was.”
“I knew what he could become.”
“And you let me stay.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Arthur looked at her.
“Because you asked me to.”
Olivia froze.
“I asked you to let me live my life.”
“You asked me not to interfere.”
“You agreed.”
“Yes.”
“And then you secretly protected his career.”
Arthur nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought if I kept his world stable, you would have time to decide whether you wanted to leave.”
Olivia stared.
“You knew he was stealing.”
“I knew some of it.”
“You knew he was cheating.”
“Yes.”
“You knew he was hurting me.”
Arthur's voice broke.
“I knew he was becoming dangerous.”
“And you did nothing.”
“I did everything I could without breaking the promise I made to you.”
Olivia looked away.
She didn't know whether to scream or cry.
Then Elizabeth spoke.
“That is not the whole truth.”
Arthur turned.
“Elizabeth.”
She shook her head.
“No more.”
She looked at Olivia.
“Your father didn't protect Victor.”
Olivia looked at her.
“He protected Victor from someone else.”
“Who?”
Elizabeth whispered:
“Daniel.”
Victor froze.
The lights suddenly went out.
Olivia gasped.
Someone grabbed her wrist.
Victor shouted:
“Olivia!”
A loud metallic sound came from the corridor.
Then another.
A door slammed.
Arthur yelled:
“Get down!”
Glass shattered.
Olivia dropped to the floor.
Victor pulled her behind a concrete pillar.
Elizabeth disappeared into darkness.
“Mom!”
No answer.
“Mom!”
A man's voice came through a hidden speaker.
“Welcome to Blackwater.”
Olivia froze.
Victor looked around.
“Who is that?”
The voice continued.
“You've spent seven years believing Victor Hayes was your enemy.”
Olivia's heart pounded.
“He wasn't.”
A light flickered on.
A camera appeared above them.
The voice laughed.
“He was your bait.”
Victor stared upward.
“What?”
The voice continued.
“Seven years ago, Olivia Hartwell married Victor Hayes.”
“Tonight, she finally learns why.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“Show yourself.”
The voice answered:
“You first.”
A screen descended from the ceiling.
A video began playing.
It showed a hospital.
Fourteen years earlier.
A woman rushed down a hallway.
Elizabeth.
Pregnant.
Terrified.
Behind her was Daniel Hayes.
And in his arms—
a newborn baby.
Olivia stared at the screen.
“That's me.”
Elizabeth appeared behind her.
“No.”
Olivia turned.
“What?”
Elizabeth's voice trembled.
“That isn't you.”
The room went silent.
Victor stared at the screen.
The baby.
The hospital.
Daniel.
Elizabeth.
Then another woman appeared.
Eleanor Hayes.
Holding a second newborn.
Two babies.
Born on the same night.
Olivia's face went white.
“There were two.”
Elizabeth nodded.
“Yes.”
Victor whispered:
“Who was the other baby?”
Elizabeth looked at him.
“You.”
Victor stopped breathing.
The video continued.
Daniel stood beside Elizabeth.
He looked younger.
Terrified.
He was holding Victor.
Elizabeth was holding Olivia.
Then Arthur entered the room.
He looked furious.
The recording had no sound.
But his expression said enough.
He pointed toward Victor.
Then toward Elizabeth.
Then toward the door.
The screen went black.
Olivia turned to Arthur.
“What did I just see?”
Arthur didn't answer.
“What did I see?”
Arthur looked at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth nodded.
Arthur finally whispered:
“You and Victor were born on the same night.”
Olivia stared.
“That doesn't explain anything.”
“No.”
Arthur swallowed.
“It explains everything.”
Victor stepped forward.
“My father was there.”
“Yes.”
“My mother was there.”
“Yes.”
“And you.”
“Yes.”
Victor's voice cracked.
“Why?”
Elizabeth answered:
“Because you and Olivia were never supposed to meet.”
A loud click came from the hallway.
The main door locked.
Then another.
The building sealed itself.
Victor turned.
“We're trapped.”
Arthur looked toward the exits.
“Yes.”
Olivia stared at the cameras.
“Who built this?”
Elizabeth answered:
“Someone who wants us to confess.”
“Confess to what?”
Elizabeth's face became pale.
“To murder.”
The word hung in the room.
Nobody moved.
Victor looked at her.
“Whose murder?”
Elizabeth looked at Arthur.
Then at Olivia.
“Daniel Hayes.”
Victor's face went blank.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“But he's alive.”
Elizabeth shook her head.
“No.”
Victor stepped back.
“But you said—”
“I said he was your ally.”
“You said he was there.”
“He was.”
“When?”
“Fourteen years ago.”
Victor stared.
“Then who have I been speaking to?”
Elizabeth's expression changed.
“You haven't.”
Victor suddenly remembered the messages.
The anonymous calls.
The warnings.
The instructions.
The voice.
He pulled out his phone.
The unknown number was still there.
Elizabeth looked at it.
“That's not Daniel.”
“Who is it?”
She whispered:
“Richard.”
The lights returned.
A monitor flickered on.
Richard Vale appeared on screen.
Older.
Calm.
Smiling.
Victor's stomach turned.
Richard leaned toward the camera.
“Hello, Victor.”
Victor stared.
“You.”
Richard smiled.
“I wondered when you'd figure it out.”
Olivia stepped forward.
“You killed Daniel.”
Richard laughed.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Richard's smile disappeared.
“You did.”
Victor froze.
“What?”
Richard continued.
“Not intentionally, of course.”
He pressed a button.
Another video appeared.
Victor saw himself.
Seven years earlier.
Walking into a parking garage.
Meeting Daniel.
Arguing.
Then leaving.
The video ended.
Victor stared.
“I don't remember this.”
“You don't remember a lot.”
Richard's voice was calm.
“Because your mother paid a doctor to help you forget.”
Victor's face went white.
“What happened that night?”
Richard leaned closer.
“You killed your father.”
Victor staggered backward.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Richard smiled.
“And Olivia was the reason.”
Olivia stared at the screen.
“What are you talking about?”
Richard looked directly at her.
“You were never supposed to survive either.”
The room fell silent.
Then Elizabeth whispered:
“Richard.”
He smiled.
“You should have stayed dead.”
Elizabeth stepped forward.
“You promised.”
“I promised you safety.”
“You promised my daughter would be safe.”
Richard laughed.
“Your daughter?”
His eyes moved toward Olivia.
“She was never the valuable one.”
Olivia's blood ran cold.
“Then who?”
Richard smiled.
“Victor.”
Victor stared.
“Why?”
“Because Victor Hayes is not Victor Hayes.”
Arthur suddenly moved.
“Enough.”
Richard looked at him.
“Arthur.”
Arthur's face hardened.
“Leave my daughter out of this.”
Richard smiled.
“Too late.”
He pressed another button.
A file appeared on the screen.
BIRTH RECORD — ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL
Two names.
Two children.
One mother.
Then a second page.
Olivia Hartwell.
Victor Hayes.
And beneath their names:
PATERNITY: UNKNOWN
Olivia stared.
“Unknown?”
Elizabeth closed her eyes.
Richard spoke.
“Now we reach the real trap.”
The screen changed.
A photograph appeared.
Arthur.
Elizabeth.
Daniel.
And a fourth person.
A man Olivia had never seen.
Richard said:
“That man is your biological father.”
Olivia stopped breathing.
Arthur looked at the screen.
His face collapsed.
Elizabeth whispered:
“No.”
Richard smiled.
“And Arthur has known his name for fourteen years.”
Olivia turned toward her father.
“Dad?”
Arthur said nothing.
“Dad, look at me.”
He couldn't.
Olivia's voice broke.
“Who is my father?”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Then whispered:
“Richard.”
Victor stared at the screen.
Then at Olivia.
Then at Arthur.
Everything inside him seemed to collapse.
Richard laughed softly.
“Now you understand.”
The doors unlocked.
Everyone froze.
Richard's final message appeared:
You have twelve hours.
Then the screen went black.
A second message appeared.
Find the real father.
A third:
Or Elizabeth dies.
Olivia turned.
Her mother was gone.
“Mom?”
No answer.
“Mom!”
Victor ran into the corridor.
Arthur followed.
Nothing.
Only an open door.
A dark staircase.
And a single bloodstained scarf lying on the floor.
Olivia picked it up.
Her hands shook.
It belonged to Elizabeth.
Victor stared at the blood.
“She's been taken.”
Arthur's face became expressionless.
“No.”
Olivia looked at him.
“What?”
Arthur pointed toward the staircase.
“She wasn't taken.”
“What do you mean?”
Arthur's voice was barely audible.
“She went willingly.”
Olivia stared.
“Why?”
Arthur looked at the bloodstained scarf.
“Because she knew this was a trap.”
He turned toward the darkness.
“And she knew exactly who built it.”
Victor whispered:
“Richard?”
Arthur shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Olivia.
“The trap was built by the person who has been protecting us all along.”
Olivia's eyes widened.
“Who?”
Arthur answered:
“Your mother.”
And somewhere beneath Blackwater, a door closed.
Then a child's voice whispered:
“Mommy said you would come.”
Olivia turned toward the sound.
A little girl stood at the end of the corridor.
She looked exactly like Elizabeth had looked in an old childhood photograph.
Same eyes.
Same dark hair.
Same small scar above her eyebrow.
She smiled at Olivia.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Are you my sister?”
