Chapter 9 - Before Midnight
Celeste lunged.
Ryan caught her wrist before the syringe reached Elena.
They struggled on the narrow landing.
Tessa pulled Elena toward the wall while Nolan fired at one of Margaret’s men. The other guard dropped his weapon and ran downstairs.
Margaret remained near the roof door.
“You weak fool,” she shouted at Ryan. “You had one task.”
Ryan twisted the syringe from Celeste’s hand.
Celeste struck him across the face.
“You said you loved me.”
Elena felt something inside her go still.
Ryan looked at his wife.
His silence confirmed the betrayal.
Celeste began crying.
“He told me the marriage was temporary. He said once Elena signed over the company, he would leave her.”
Margaret seized the syringe from Ryan.
Nolan turned his weapon toward her.
“Drop it.”
Margaret pressed the needle against her own palm.
“This contains enough medication to begin labor within minutes.”
Elena’s stomach tightened again.
“Why would you risk the baby before midnight?”
Margaret smiled.
“Because the codicil Greer saw was false.”
Ryan stared at her.
“The trust does activate at birth.”
“Yes.”
“Then everything transfers to Elena’s child.”
“Only if Henry Vale is legally dead.”
Nolan understood first.
“If Henry appears before the birth, the trust returns to him.”
Margaret nodded.
“But if Elena gives birth while Henry remains legally dead, the infant receives the patents. Ryan becomes the presumed father and controls the child’s assets.”
Elena’s voice became cold.
“You planned to use my baby as an owner you could manipulate.”
“Children are easier to control than adults.”
Ryan looked at Margaret with disgust.
“You never intended to give Celeste the company.”
“I intended to preserve my family.”
Celeste stepped away from her mother.
“You used me.”
Margaret laughed.
“You offered yourself.”
Nolan moved closer.
“Put down the syringe.”
Margaret glanced at the clock on the wall.
11:46 p.m.
“If Henry is alive, he must be silenced before the child is born.”
The roof transmitter suddenly activated.
Phone signals returned across the building.
Nolan’s tablet filled with emergency notifications.
Police had surrounded the hotel.
At the same moment, Elena’s phone rang.
The caller identification showed her own home number.
She answered.
For several seconds, she heard only breathing.
Then Henry’s voice spoke.
“Elena, listen carefully. Ryan did not betray you for Margaret.”
Elena looked at her husband.
Henry continued.
“He betrayed you for the person standing beside Nolan Pierce.”
Tessa’s face lost all color.
Before Elena could speak, the call ended.
May you like
Tessa slowly reached into the folds of her bridesmaid dress.
Continue to the next part: The frightened bridesmaid who exposed the ring trap may have been guiding Elena toward an even larger ambush.
