Chapter 12 - THE TRUTH COMES OUT
Melissa stared at me.
“You ruined everything.”
Detective Hayes stepped between us.
“Put it down.”
Melissa laughed.
“You think you can arrest me again?”
“Drop the syringe.”
“You don't understand.”
Her voice broke.
“I was promised everything.”
“By Victor?”
She froze.
Then looked at Ryan.
“Your brother knew.”
Ryan stared at her.
“What are you talking about?”
“You knew Victor wanted the company.”
“Yes.”
“You knew he was using Daniel.”
“I didn't know about the murder.”
Melissa laughed bitterly.
“You knew enough.”
I stepped forward.
“Why did you do it?”
She looked at me.
“Because I hated you.”
The admission was almost quiet.
“You married Ryan.”
“Yes.”
“You got pregnant.”
“Yes.”
“You were going to receive the inheritance.”
Melissa's eyes filled with tears.
“And I got nothing.”
I shook my head.
“You almost killed my baby.”
“I didn't mean for you to die.”
“You locked me outside in freezing weather.”
“I wanted you to lose the baby.”
The hallway went silent.
Ryan looked at her with horror.
“You're my sister.”
“You chose her.”
“No.”
“You always chose her.”
Melissa's hand shook.
Victor suddenly appeared behind her.
“Enough.”
She turned.
“Victor?”
He raised a gun.
Everything stopped.
Detective Hayes reached for her weapon.
Victor fired.
The bullet struck the wall.
People screamed.
Ryan pushed me behind him.
Victor ran.
Detective Hayes chased him.
Melissa dropped the syringe.
She sank to the floor.
“I didn't know he'd kill me too.”
I stared at her.
For the first time, she looked like a frightened woman rather than a monster.
But I couldn't forgive her.
Not yet.
Then my stomach tightened.
A contraction.
Then another.
I grabbed my belly.
“Ryan.”
He turned.
“What's wrong?”
“My baby.”
The nurse rushed toward me.
“She's in labor.”
At twenty-eight weeks.
Too early.
Too soon.
And while the hospital staff rushed me toward the delivery room, Detective Hayes came running back.
“Victor escaped.”
Ryan stared at her.
“What?”
“He got outside.”
Then she held up something.
A bloodied jacket.
“He left this behind.”
Inside the pocket was a note.
May you like
Three words.
The baby knows.
