Chapter 10 - THE RECORDING
The recording was twelve minutes long.
Nobody spoke while it played.
Vanessa’s voice was unmistakable.
She discussed Elena.
The hospital.
The baby.
The money.
Then came the sentence prosecutors needed.
“She survived the hospital.”
A man asked what Vanessa wanted done.
Vanessa replied calmly.
“Make sure she doesn’t survive the road.”
Elena stopped the recording.
She could not listen anymore.
Adrian stood beside her.
His face was white with rage.
“I’m sorry.”
Elena shook her head.
“You didn’t do it.”
“But my world gave her the power to.”
Elena looked at him.
“Then use that power differently.”
He remembered those words.
Vanessa was arrested that evening.
This time, there was no release.
Charges followed.
Kidnapping.
Fraud.
Conspiracy.
Attempted murder.
Evidence tampering.
Charles accepted a plea agreement in exchange for testimony.
Dr. Warren was arrested.
The hospital opened an independent investigation.
The story exploded across national media.
But inside Blackwood Manor, something quieter was happening.
Noah had nightmares.
He woke calling for Elena.
She slept in the room beside his.
Adrian often found them together in the morning.
Sometimes Noah was asleep against Elena’s shoulder.
Sometimes she was singing.
Adrian would stand in the doorway.
Watching.
Remembering everything that had been stolen from them.
One morning Elena noticed him.
“You can come in.”
Adrian sat beside Noah.
For the first time in six years, the three of them shared breakfast in bed.
May you like
It should have felt strange.
Instead, it felt familiar.
