Chapter 10 - The Person Standing Beside Their Beds
The hallway felt like it disappeared.
Everything became quiet.
Too quiet.
Nathan stood frozen outside his sons’ bedroom.
The security team behind him raised their weapons.
I looked through the open doorway.
Marcus and Mason were sitting against the headboard.
Alive.
Safe.
But beside them…
Someone stood holding a knife.
Not a stranger.
Not an intruder.
Someone who had walked these halls every day.
Someone who had earned Nathan Coleman’s trust.
Maria.
The housekeeper.
The same woman everyone believed had disappeared.
Nathan’s voice was barely recognizable.
“Maria.”
She slowly turned.
Her face was filled with tears.
“I can explain.”
Nathan stepped forward.
“You were in my children’s room.”
“I wasn’t going to hurt them.”
“You had a knife.”
Her hand trembled.
“I needed to protect them.”
Nobody moved.
Nobody believed her.
Not after everything.
Not after the poison.
Not after Elena’s warning.
I watched Maria carefully.
There was something different about her.
Fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
“Put the knife down,” Nathan ordered.
Maria slowly placed it on the floor.
Then she raised her hands.
“I know what this looks like.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“My sons were poisoned.”
“I know.”
“Someone used my security system.”
“I know.”
“Your name was connected to Elena’s investigation.”
Maria closed her eyes.
“I know.”
The room exploded with anger.
“Then tell me why I shouldn’t believe you’re responsible.”
Maria looked at Nathan.
“Because your wife trusted me.”
Silence.
Nathan ordered everyone out except Gerald, me, and Maria.
The twins were moved to another room with security.
Maria sat across from us.
She looked older than she had that morning.
Broken.
“I never betrayed Elena.”
Nathan stared.
“Then why did she write your name?”
Maria swallowed.
“Because she knew I was involved.”
Nathan’s expression hardened.
“Involved in what?”
“Helping her.”
The answer surprised everyone.
Maria looked at me.
“Your wife discovered something terrible.”
“What?”
“She discovered that someone inside this family was planning to take control of everything after her death.”
Nathan leaned forward.
“Who?”
Maria hesitated.
Then said:
“Your brother.”
The room froze.
Nathan’s eyes changed.
“My brother died five years ago.”
Maria shook her head.
“No.”
A pause.
“He didn’t.”
The truth came out slowly.
Nathan had an older half-brother named Vincent.
Years earlier, Vincent had disappeared after a business conflict.
Everyone believed he was dead.
But Elena discovered he was alive.
Living under another identity.
Building influence.
Waiting.
Maria explained that Elena had discovered payments connecting Vincent to Dr. Ashford.
She had planned to expose them.
But before she could…
Her car crashed.
Nathan sat completely still.
All these years.
He believed he lost his wife by accident.
Now he realized someone had taken her.
“Where is he?” Nathan asked.
Maria looked away.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“He knows you found out.”
Nathan stood.
“How?”
Maria’s face went pale.
“Because he has someone inside your security team.”
Everyone looked at each other.
Another traitor.
Another person hiding.
Then Gerald’s phone rang.
Everyone froze.
The number was unknown.
Gerald answered.
A voice came through.
“You should have listened to Elena.”
Gerald’s face turned white.
Nathan grabbed the phone.
“Who is this?”
The voice laughed softly.
“You spent years protecting a kingdom built on secrets.”
A pause.
“Now watch it collapse.”
The call ended.
Nathan stared at the phone.
Then the speaker turned back on.
A second message appeared.
Not from a phone.
From the mansion system.
“You found the truth too late.”
May you like
And underneath it:
“Your sons are not the only ones I poisoned.”
