Chapter 6 - A Trap Is Sprung
Elena ran straight to her quarters, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She woke Mateo, throwing his clothes into a duffel bag. "We have to go, sweetie. Right now."
"But Mom, it's dark outside," Mateo whimpered, rubbing his eyes.
Before they could reach the back exit of the estate, the grand lights of the courtyard flashed on. Two black sedans pulled up, accompanied by local police cruisers. Arthur stepped out of the shadows of the foyer, a triumphant smirk on his face, followed by a deeply confused and distressed Julian.
"There she is! The fraud!" Arthur shouted, pointing at Elena. "Trying to escape because she knows the truth is out!"
A police officer stepped forward. "Elena Vasquez? You are under arrest for reckless endangerment of a minor and conspiracy to commit fraud."
Julian walked up, his eyes filled with profound hurt and disbelief. "Elena... tell me it's not true. My security team found traces of peanut residue in the nanny's old lockers, and the nanny signed an affidavit saying you paid her to leave the suite open that day. She says you planned the whole thing."
Elena looked at Julian, seeing the pain of a father who felt betrayed by the person who saved his child. "Julian, please. Look at me. I would never, ever hurt a child. I know what it’s like to watch a child choke for air. I would never inflict that on Lily."
"Then why are you packed to leave in the middle of the night?" Arthur demanded, stepping into the light.
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Elena took a deep breath. She knew she had only one card left to play. She reached into her collar, pulled out the silver lotus locket, and let it hang under the bright chandelier lights. Then, she pulled the old Swiss ledger out of her bag and held it out.
"I’m leaving because your brother is trying to destroy me," Elena said clearly, her voice echoing in the grand hall. "Not because of a staged rescue, Julian. But because of who I am. And who he knows I am."
