Chapter 12 - THE WOMAN INSIDE THE MANSION
Adrien had never moved so quickly.
He called the mansion's security chief.
No answer.
He called the house manager.
Straight to voicemail.
Then he called the private number assigned to the triplets' nursery.
A woman answered.
“Belandi residence.”
Adrien froze.
“Helena?”
His stepmother laughed softly.
“Hello, Adrien.”
“Where are the children?”
“Sleeping.”
He glanced at Evelyn.
She could see the fear spreading across his face.
“Put their security detail on the phone.”
“Oh, Adrien. You always did trust the wrong people.”
The line went dead.
Detective Hayes immediately dispatched officers to the estate.
Adrien paced the hospital corridor.
His children had finally begun speaking.
They had finally stopped looking over their shoulders.
And now the woman who had spent years pretending to care for them might be preparing to take them away.
Evelyn caught his attention.
“Adrien, listen to me.”
He stopped.
“The triplets know more than anyone realizes.”
He stared at her.
“They remember things. They recognize patterns. They know when something is wrong.”
Adrien nodded slowly.
“But they're only five.”
“And they're not helpless.”
A message appeared on Evelyn's phone.
Unknown number.
A photograph.
It showed Lily, Noah, and Oliver sitting together inside a dark room.
Lily was holding the stuffed rabbit.
Beneath the image was a message.
Bring Evelyn Hart to the old Belandi warehouse. Come alone.
Adrien read it.
His face hardened.
“No.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“They want me.”
“It's a trap.”
“I know.”
She showed the photograph to Detective Hayes rather than responding.
The detective examined the background.
“The warehouse has been abandoned for years. We can secure the perimeter.”
Evelyn studied the picture more closely.
Noah had positioned his fingers against the rabbit's ear.
Oliver held three fingers against his chest.
And Lily was pointing toward a small painted number on the wall.
Evelyn enlarged the image.
Three.
One.
Four.
314.
The same number as Celeste's hospital room.
Then Evelyn noticed a faint reflection in a metal cabinet behind the children.
It showed a woman standing near the door.
Helena.
But she wasn't alone.
A man stood beside her.
He wore a dark suit and held a folder beneath his arm.
Adrien recognized him.
His longtime attorney.
Samuel Price.
The man responsible for managing the Belandi children's inheritance.
Evelyn suddenly understood.
“This isn't just about Celeste.”
Adrien looked at her.
“What?”
“They need the children because of something they own.”
Detective Hayes checked the financial records.
Her face changed.
“According to the family trust, the triplets inherit a controlling interest in the Belandi foundation when they turn six.”
Evelyn swallowed.
“And when is their birthday?”
May you like
Adrien's answer made the room go silent.
“Tomorrow.”
