Chapter 3 – The Woman in White
The beam of the approaching flashlight swept across the corridor.
Grace immediately switched off her phone.
Darkness swallowed everything.
She pressed herself behind a thick concrete pillar.
Slow footsteps echoed closer.
One.
Then another.
Whoever was coming knew this passage well.
They never hesitated.
The flashlight finally revealed a familiar pair of ivory heels.
Grace's stomach tightened.
Isabella Ashford.
The billionaire's new wife.
She carried a small leather medical bag in one hand.
Her elegant white evening gown brushed lightly against the concrete floor.
She looked completely different from the smiling hostess upstairs.
Her face was cold.
Expressionless.
She stopped in front of the steel door.
"Oliver."
Her voice was calm.
"Did you eat your dinner?"
No answer came from inside.
She sighed.
"You know the rules."
Silence.
She entered six numbers on the keypad.
The heavy lock clicked.
The steel door slowly opened.
Grace carefully peeked around the pillar.
The room beyond was small.
No windows.
Only a narrow bed.
A desk.
A bookshelf.
A little boy sat in the corner hugging his knees.
His blond hair had grown longer.
His face looked thinner than Grace remembered.
Oliver shielded his eyes from the flashlight.
"I don't want to stay here."
"You don't have a choice."
"You lied."
"You said Dad forgot about me."
Isabella crouched until they were eye level.
"I told you exactly what was necessary."
Oliver shook his head.
"My father loves me."
For the first time...
A flash of irritation crossed Isabella's face.
"You still believe that."
She placed fresh food on the table.
"You'll stay here a little longer."
"When everything is finished..."
"...you'll understand."
She turned to leave.
Just before closing the door...
Oliver whispered one sentence.
"My mother warned Dad about you."
Isabella froze.
Her hand tightened around the door.
Then...
Without saying another word...
She slammed it shut.
The electronic lock engaged again.
May you like
Grace remained perfectly still.
She had just heard something Isabella never intended anyone to hear.
