Chapter 10 - The False Victory
The sight of Rosalie breathing on her own was the most beautiful miracle I had ever witnessed.
Gloria the nurse stood beside the incubator, beaming with a wide, genuine smile.
“Her lungs completely cleared up while you were gone,” Gloria announced happily.
“The doctor says if she keeps this up, you can take her home by the end of the week.”
I leaned over the plastic box, tears of absolute joy spilling quietly down my cheeks.
Kevin sat in his wheelchair beside me, gently stroking Rosalie’s tiny fingers through the portal.
Our family was finally back together, entirely safe from the toxic monsters who had tried to destroy us.
My mother, my sister, and her fiancé were sitting in holding cells facing multiple life sentences.
The five-million-dollar trust fund was completely secure for Brooklyn's future.
The terrifying storm had finally passed, leaving us standing in the peaceful aftermath.
“I am going to take Brooklyn down to the cafeteria to get some real food,” Kevin said gently, squeezing my hand.
“You stay here and rest with the baby.”
I nodded gratefully, feeling the exhaustion of the last forty-eight hours finally catching up to my bones.
“My wallet is in my coat pocket,” Kevin added, pointing to his bloody jacket resting on the recliner.
“Just grab my credit card for me.”
I walked over to the chair and reached into the deep pocket of his ruined jacket.
My fingers brushed past his leather wallet and touched the smooth glass screen of his cell phone.
I pulled the phone out, intending to plug it into the wall charger before he needed it later.
The screen automatically illuminated, displaying a draft text message that had failed to send due to a poor connection at Courtney’s house.
I glanced at the screen, expecting to see a worried message he had tried to send me before he was attacked.
Instead, the draft was addressed to my mother’s phone number.
My heart completely stopped as I read the words glowing in the dim hospital light.
“You were only supposed to turn the dial to scare her, you stupid old woman.”
“I never told you to use the insulin I bought from Courtney's fiancé.”
“If she dies, the police will investigate, and we won't get a dime of the trust fund.”
I stared at the screen, the entire room violently tilting on its axis as the horrifying truth slammed into my reality.
My mother hadn't planned this elaborate murder and kidnapping scheme on her own.
Kevin had orchestrated the entire nightmare to steal his own daughter's inheritance.
He had manipulated my toxic family, staged his own attack in the driveway, and played the perfect, innocent husband.
I slowly turned around, gripping the phone tightly in my trembling hand.
May you like
Kevin was sitting in the wheelchair, watching me closely from the doorway.
And he wasn't smiling anymore.
