Chapter 8 - The Escape
The heavy glass door clicked shut and automatically locked behind Audrey, trapping her inside the office.
Lenora Voss looked completely at home in the powerful lawyer's chair, resting the heavy handgun casually on the mahogany desk.
Audrey backed away slowly, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs as the ultimate betrayal sank in.
Mr. Sterling hadn't just been her family’s most trusted advisor; he was the inside man facilitating the entire forged inheritance.
He was the one who had written the fake will, and he was the one ensuring it would legally pass through the courts on Friday.
Lenora smiled brightly, complimenting Audrey on figuring out the puzzle just a little too late.
She explained that Richard Bellamy had treated Sterling like a servant for decades, making him incredibly easy to buy off.
Lenora stood up slowly, keeping the dark barrel of the gun pointed perfectly at Audrey’s chest.
She slid a thick stack of legal documents across the polished surface of the desk.
They were power of attorney forms, granting Julian absolute control over Audrey’s medical and financial decisions.
Lenora told her that she was going to sign the papers voluntarily right now.
If she refused, Lenora promised to call the police herself and report that Audrey was suffering from severe pregnancy psychosis.
With the forged medical records Sterling had prepared, they would lock Audrey inside a psychiatric facility for the rest of her life.
Audrey looked at the papers, then looked at the cold, murderous intent burning in the older woman's eyes.
She knew Lenora wasn't bluffing; she had spent years planning this exact moment of ultimate revenge.
“You’re insane,” Audrey whispered, tears of genuine frustration finally spilling down her cheeks.
Lenora laughed a dry, humorless laugh.
“I’m just taking what your father owed me for stealing my youth,” Lenora sneered, tossing a black pen onto the documents.
Audrey slowly walked forward, her hands trembling as she reached for the expensive pen.
She looked completely defeated, a broken woman surrendering her empire to save her own life.
She uncapped the pen and leaned over the desk, the nib hovering just millimeters above the signature line.
“I’ll sign it,” Audrey cried softly, letting out a pathetic, broken sob.
Lenora lowered the gun slightly, a massive, victorious smile spreading across her face.
It was exactly the moment of weakness Audrey had been waiting for.
Audrey didn't sign the paper.
Instead, she forcefully slammed the sharp metal pen directly into the back of Lenora’s hand, pinning it to the desk.
Lenora screamed in absolute agony, dropping the heavy handgun onto the floor.
Audrey grabbed the gun, kicked Lenora in the stomach to keep her down, and aimed the weapon right at the older woman's head.
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Suddenly, the private elevator doors behind Audrey chimed loudly.
Julian stepped out of the elevator, holding a metal briefcase, and froze as he saw his mother bleeding on the desk.
