Chapter 6 - A Mother’s Courage
Upstairs in the family suite, Clare Rowan could not sleep. Ellie was curled up under a heavy down blanket, finally fast asleep, her small hand still clutching the wooden latch toy.
Clare paced across the plush rug, her heart hammering against her ribs. She knew too much now. Even if Mr. Vale won this battle, would a man like Arthur Voss ever let witnesses walk away? The thought made her blood run cold. She needed to secure her and Ellie’s future—or better yet, find something that could help Dominic crush these monsters once and for all.
Her eyes drifted to the service dumbwaiter in the corner of the suite—a vintage mahogany lift used by the domestic staff to move linens and supplies between floors.
Clare remembered cleaning the executive guest wing earlier that week, specifically the private study assigned to Arthur Voss whenever he stayed overnight at the estate. Arthur had left in a rush yesterday afternoon, dropping a heavy leather folio behind his writing desk. Clare had picked it up and placed it on the side table, but she hadn't opened it.
What if it was still there?
Heart pounding in her throat, Clare gently opened the door to the family suite. The hallway was bathed in the red glow of emergency lighting. No guards were stationed right outside this door—they were all deployed near the main foyer and the perimeter exits.
Taking a deep breath, she tiptoed down the carpeted corridor toward the west guest wing, her soft-soled slippers making no sound against the floor.
The door to Arthur’s guest suite was unlocked.
Clare slipped inside, closing the door behind her with agonizing slowness. The room smelled of expensive cologne and old paper. Moonlight cut through the rain-streaked windows, illuminating the mahogany writing desk.
She dropped to her knees and felt around the base of the table.
Her fingers brushed against cold leather. She pulled it out—a heavy, brass-clasped folio bearing the crest of the Vale organization.
With trembling fingers, she unlatched the flap and opened it. Inside were not just financial notes, but original handwritten draft agreements, signed proxies from four different council members, and—most damning of all—a printed schematic of Dominic’s custom orthopedic brace, complete with handwritten annotations detailing how to reverse the retaining plate to maximize nerve damage.
Clare gasped, clamping her hand over her mouth.
Suddenly, a floorboard creaked behind her.
May you like
"Looking for something, my dear?" a smooth, chilling voice asked from the doorway.
Clare spun around. Standing in the shadows was Arthur Voss, his silver hair catching the moonlight, a cold, predatory smile playing across his lips.
