Chapter 7 - The Woman Who Knew Too Much
The message was still sitting on the table.
Three words.
“The nanny is next.”
Everyone in the room understood what it meant.
This wasn’t a warning.
It was a promise.
Nathan Coleman had spent his entire life surrounded by enemies.
He knew threats.
He knew intimidation.
He knew what fear looked like.
But this was different.
Because whoever was behind this wasn’t trying to destroy him.
They were trying to break him.
They chose his children.
They chose his home.
And now they chose me.
“Sarah, you’re leaving tonight.”
Nathan’s voice was firm.
I looked at him.
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“That wasn’t a request.”
“And my answer wasn’t a suggestion.”
Gerald looked between us, clearly uncomfortable.
“Miss Mitchell, Mr. Coleman is trying to protect you.”
“I know.”
“Then why refuse?”
I looked toward the twins’ bedroom.
“Because if I leave, whoever is doing this wins.”
Nathan didn’t respond.
Because he knew I was right.
The security team searched every inch of the mansion again.
The walls.
The cameras.
The ventilation system.
The staff quarters.
Nothing.
No hidden person.
No evidence.
No explanation.
That was the most frightening part.
The enemy was invisible.
Later that evening, I sat beside Marcus and Mason.
They looked better.
Only slightly.
But better.
The poisoning had stopped.
Their bodies were slowly recovering.
Marcus looked at me.
“Are you going away?”
I smiled.
“No.”
“Because people always leave.”
My heart tightened.
“What do you mean?”
He looked down.
“Doctors leave.”
“Doctors?”
“They come in, talk to Daddy, then they leave.”
Mason quietly added:
“They say they can help.”
“And?”
“They can’t.”
Six-year-olds should worry about cartoons.
School.
Birthday parties.
Not whether adults would save them.
I reached for their hands.
“I’m staying.”
Marcus looked at me.
“Promise?”
I nodded.
“I promise.”
I didn’t know it then.
But that promise would almost cost me my life.
At midnight, I heard a sound.
A soft click.
I opened my eyes.
My room was dark.
Too dark.
I reached for my phone.
Nothing.
The power was gone.
The entire mansion had lost electricity.
That was impossible.
Nathan had backup generators.
I quietly stepped out of bed.
The hallway was empty.
Then I smelled it.
That same sweet chemical scent.
Stronger this time.
My stomach dropped.
The ventilation system.
Someone had turned it back on.
I ran toward the boys’ room.
The door was locked.
From the inside.
“Marcus!”
No answer.
“Mason!”
A weak cough came from inside.
My blood went cold.
I grabbed the handle.
Locked.
Then I heard a whisper.
Not from the boys.
From behind me.
“You should have left when you had the chance.”
I turned.
A shadow stood at the end of the hallway.
And then the lights came back on.
The person was gone.
Nathan arrived seconds later with security.
The boys were removed from the room immediately.
The door was forced open.
Inside, everything looked normal.
Except one thing.
The air monitor.
The device showed dangerous chemical levels.
Someone had attempted to poison them again.
And this time...
They weren’t trying to hide it.
They were trying to send a message.
The security team reviewed the cameras.
The footage showed something impossible.
At 12:14 AM, someone entered the boys’ hallway.
A person wearing a maintenance uniform.
Face covered.
Walking calmly.
Like they belonged there.
Then the camera glitched.
Ten seconds later...
The person disappeared.
Nathan stared at the screen.
“How?”
Nobody answered.
Then Gerald stepped forward.
“Mr. Coleman.”
Everyone turned.
Gerald looked pale.
“There is only one person who can override the security system like that.”
Nathan’s expression changed.
“Who?”
Gerald hesitated.
Then said:
“Someone who helped install it.”
A pause.
“Your late wife.”
The room went silent.
Because Elena Coleman was dead.
May you like
But somehow...
Someone was using her access.
