Chapter 2: What the Phone Call Knew
Elena didn't let go.
Even as Daniel crouched down and reached for the rope — his own hands, the hands that had placed a wedding ring on Sarah's finger — Elena threw herself over it.
"You will not touch this rope," she said.
"Do you hear me?
You will not."
Daniel's eyes went cold.
"Move, Elena.
This doesn't concern you."
"She is carrying your child.
That concerns everyone."
"It's not my child."
The words landed like a stone.
Sarah's grip nearly failed.
Her whole body went weak.
"What did you just say?" Elena whispered.
Victoria stepped closer, her voice dropping low enough that only the three of them could hear.
"The baby was never part of the plan.
Neither was she."
"What plan?" Elena's head snapped up.
"What plan, Mother?"
No answer.
But Sarah saw it then — the look that passed between Daniel and Victoria.
Quick.
Practiced.
Like two people who had rehearsed this moment long before today.
This wasn't an argument.
This was arranged.
"Elena—" Sarah's voice was barely a breath.
"They knew.
They knew before the wedding."
Elena's face went white.
Then a phone rang.
Victoria's phone.
May you like
She looked at the screen — and for the first time that morning, something crossed her face that wasn't cold.
It was fear.
