Chapter 3 - The Cold Truth
Nathan triggered the secondary lights in the conservatory, drawing Marcus and Thorne deeper into the west wing of the estate. The vast glass room was filled with frozen flora, illuminated by the pale moonlight filtering through the snow-covered skylights.
"Nathan!" Marcus called out, his footsteps crunching on the frosted tile. "You were always so arrogant, sitting in your pristine operating room while I built an empire. Sarah belonged to me the moment she walked into my office seven years ago. You discarded her, and I took her."
"You poisoned her life, Marcus," Nathan’s voice echoed through the hidden speakers in the walls. "You systematically isolated her, forged medical records to paint her as insane, and planned to have her killed for insurance money."
Marcus smirked, stepping closer to the center of the conservatory. "It’s business, Nathan. Sarah found out about the offshore accounts and the failed investments. She was going to ruin me. Twelve million dollars in insurance policies was the only way to recover my losses. And the children? They were simply collateral damage. A grieving father gets complete sympathy—and complete access to the trusts."
Behind Marcus, Dr. Thorne looked visibly shaken. "Marcus, you said the kids were just going to a private facility!"
"They were," Marcus replied without looking back, his voice dripping with venom. "A facility where they would suffer an unfortunate, tragic illness. Now be quiet and find the basement access."
From the shadows behind a high stone pillar, Nathan struck. He flung a heavy glass planter onto the tile, creating a sharp explosion of sound. As Marcus spun around and fired two wild shots into the dark, Nathan tackled Dr. Thorne from behind, wrestling the heavy medical bag from his grip and sweeping his legs out from under him. Thorne crashed to the floor, his head hitting the marble fountain rim, rendering him unconscious.
Marcus swung his revolver toward Nathan, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "End of the line, Doctor."
Before Marcus could pull the trigger, the glass skylight above them shattered under the weight of the mounting snow and the relentless gale. A massive cascade of ice and frozen glass plummeted into the room, showering Marcus. He screamed as a heavy shard sliced across his arm, dropping the revolver into the thick layer of snow on the conservatory floor.
Nathan didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, kicking the revolver across the slick tile and out of reach, then grabbed Marcus by his lapels, pinning him against the icy stone wall.
"Where is Sarah?" Nathan demanded, his voice dangerously low. "Tell me where she is, or I leave you in this room to freeze."
Marcus choked out a laugh, blood staining his lip. "She's already dead, Nathan. By now, the sedative Thorne prepared for her has taken effect. She’s sleeping at the bottom of the lake near the old cabin."
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Nathan’s chest tightened with grief, but his surgical discipline pushed the emotion down. He needed facts, not despair. He tightened his grip on Marcus's coat. "You're lying. Sarah sent Lily tonight. She was alive when Lily left."
"Check her coat..." Marcus gasped, his eyes wide with malicious glee. "The real location... isn't in the envelope..."
