Chapter 4: The Room Beneath the Mansion
The door opened slowly.
Rachel prepared herself.
She expected Daniel.
She expected Vanessa.
She expected someone powerful enough to silence everyone in the room.
Instead, a young woman stepped inside.
Rachel recognized her.
Sophie Carter.
Vanessa's younger sister.
She had spent most of the evening smiling beside the fireplace.
Rachel immediately relaxed.
Then Sophie closed the door behind her.
And locked it.
"You're too late.""
Ethan stepped forward.
"What did you do?""
Sophie's face was exhausted.
"Me?""
She laughed softly.
"You still think I was the one with power?""
Rachel looked between them.
"What is happening?""
Sophie stared at Lily.
"I've been trying to get her out for months.""
Lily moved closer to Rachel.
"Why didn't you?""
Sophie looked heartbroken.
"Because every time I tried, Daniel threatened to destroy everyone I loved.""
Rachel studied her.
The Carter family was beginning to look less like a family and more like a prison.
Sophie reached into her bag.
She pulled out a folder.
"I found this in Daniel's office.""
Ethan opened it.
Inside were financial records.
Photographs.
Documents.
And one page that made Rachel stop breathing.
A birth certificate.
But not Lily's.
Another child's.
Rachel looked at Sophie.
"Who is this?""
Sophie swallowed.
"My sister.""
Rachel frowned.
"Your sister?""
Sophie nodded.
"Vanessa had another child before Lily.""
The room became silent.
"Where is she?""
Sophie looked away.
"She died.""
Lily started crying.
Rachel immediately knelt beside her.
But Ethan was staring at the documents.
"No.""
His voice was barely there.
"No, that can't be.""
Rachel looked at him.
"What?""
Ethan pointed to the paper.
"This isn't a birth certificate.""
He turned the page.
"It's a transfer record.""
Margaret stepped closer.
Her face changed.
"What does it say?""
Ethan looked sick.
"It says Lily wasn't adopted.""
Rachel frowned.
"Then what?""
Ethan looked at his sister.
"She was purchased.""
Nobody spoke.
The word stayed in the air.
Purchased.
Rachel felt cold.
Before anyone could say anything else, the mansion speakers suddenly turned on.
Daniel Carter's voice filled the room.
"Rachel.""
Everyone froze.
His voice was calm.
Almost friendly.
"You have made a series of unfortunate choices tonight.""
Rachel looked at the ceiling.
Daniel continued.
"I understand why. You're young. Emotional. You think you're saving someone.""
Rachel grabbed Lily's hand.
"Where are you?""
No answer.
Only his voice.
"But before you decide to involve the police, I think you should know something.""
A pause.
Then:
"Lily isn't the only person in this house who needs saving.""
Rachel frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Daniel laughed softly.
Then the lights in the service room flickered.
The door behind them unlocked.
A phone on the table began ringing.
Nobody moved.
Finally, Sophie picked it up.
Her face changed instantly.
She handed the phone to Rachel.
Rachel pressed it to her ear.
A woman's voice whispered from the other end.
A voice full of fear.
"Rachel Bennett?""
"Yes?""
"Listen carefully.""
The woman took a shaky breath.
"If you want to know what happened to Ethan Carter six years ago...""
Rachel looked at Ethan.
"...ask him why he lied about where he was the night he disappeared.""
The call ended.
Rachel slowly lowered the phone.
Everyone stared at Ethan.
May you like
Because for the first time all night—
Ethan looked afraid.
