Chapter 11 - THE WEDDING THAT NEVER HAPPENED
The certificate was fraudulent.
But it had been filed.
That was enough for Daniel.
His network could use it before anyone proved otherwise.
“Sign the transfer.”
“No.”
Daniel raised the syringe toward Lily.
“You love making difficult choices.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“Daniel.”
“What?”
“She needs to sign everything.”
“She will.”
“No mistakes this time.”
Their argument gave Lily another second.
Her left hand slipped free.
I saw it.
I didn’t react.
Instead, I looked at Margaret.
“You chose women with children.”
Her jaw tightened.
“Not always.”
“Why?”
“Because mothers are predictable.”
I hated her.
“You threaten the child, and the mother signs.”
“Usually.”
“What happened to the children afterward?”
Daniel cut in.
“Enough.”
Margaret smiled at me.
“Some adapted.”
Lily’s face changed.
I saw fear turn into fury.
She grabbed the metal tray beside her chair.
And threw it.
The tray struck Daniel’s wrist.
The syringe flew across the room.
I ran.
Everything exploded.
Lily rolled sideways with the chair.
Robert grabbed me.
I drove my elbow backward into his ribs.
Margaret screamed.
Dr. Shaw stood frozen.
“Help us!”
I shouted.
He didn’t.
Then Daniel hit me from behind.
I fell.
He grabbed my hair.
“You stupid—”
Lily bit his hand.
Hard.
Daniel screamed.
He raised his fist.
Dr. Shaw finally moved.
“Don’t!”
Daniel turned.
Shaw punched him.
Not well.
Not hard.
But enough.
I kicked Daniel’s knee.
He collapsed.
Robert lunged at Lily.
Then gunfire exploded outside.
Police.
Daniel’s face went white.
Margaret backed toward the door.
“Daniel.”
“Go!”
She ran.
I freed Lily.
“Mom!”
I held her.
Daniel crawled toward the syringe.
I saw him.
So did Lily.
“Mom!”
I kicked it away.
Daniel tackled me.
We hit the floor.
He wrapped both hands around my throat.
His eyes were empty.
Not angry.
Not wild.
Empty.
This was the real Daniel.
“If I lose everything,” he whispered, “you don’t get to keep anything either.”
Then a gun clicked behind him.
Detective Ruiz.
“Take your hands off her.”
Daniel froze.
Slowly, he raised his hands.
Police dragged him away.
I thought it was over.
Then Ruiz’s radio crackled.
“Suspect Margaret Harper escaped through the east exit.”
Another voice followed.
“Vehicle heading south.”
I looked at Lily.
She looked back at me.
Then Dr. Shaw said quietly,
“She isn’t running.”
Ruiz turned.
“What?”
Shaw’s face was gray.
“She’s going to Claire’s house.”
“Why?”
May you like
He swallowed.
“Because there’s something under it she needs to destroy before you find it.”
