Chapter 7 - The Hostage
Sarah backed away from Mark as if he had suddenly caught fire.
"Is he telling the truth?" she asked, her voice shaking with devastating betrayal.
Mark’s face drained of color, and he held his hands up defensively.
"Sarah, please listen to me," he begged, taking a slow step toward her.
"I built that security system three years ago, but I thought it was for his private art vault!"
Sarah didn't know what or who to believe anymore.
Everything she thought she knew about her life was a carefully constructed lie.
"Stay away from me," she warned him, picking up the heavy iron candlestick from the altar.
She turned her back on both men and ran toward the narrow, winding staircase of the bell tower.
The stone steps were incredibly steep and covered in years of thick dust.
She climbed as fast as she could, her lungs burning with every breath.
As she neared the top, she heard the harsh, cruel voice of Mark's father, Arthur.
"Sign the transfer papers, Eleanor, or I will drop you right out of this window," Arthur threatened.
Sarah reached the landing and peered around the stone archway.
Arthur was holding a terrified, frail woman by the collar of her hospital gown.
He had her pushed dangerously far over the stone ledge of the open window.
It was her mother.
Eleanor looked older, thinner, and deeply traumatized, but she was still incredibly beautiful.
"Mom!" Sarah cried out, dropping the candlestick and stepping into the light.
Arthur whipped his head around and glared at the ruined bride.
He pulled his gun and pointed it directly at Sarah's chest.
"Ah, the blushing bride finally joins the party," Arthur mocked with a cold smile.
"Come over here and sign the marriage certificate, Sarah."
Eleanor struggled weakly against the man's tight grip.
"Don't do it, Sarah!" her mother screamed with sudden, fierce energy.
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Arthur struck Eleanor across the face, silencing her immediately.
Before Arthur could pull the trigger on Sarah, someone tackled him hard from the side.
