Chapter 5 - The Web of Deceit
Evelyn froze, stepping back toward Clara, who immediately positioned herself defensively beside her.
— Victoria... what are you talking about? — Evelyn asked, her voice shaking with disbelief. — You're my sister! I brought you into this home, I gave you a job at the foundation, I shared everything with you!
— You gave me charity, Evelyn! — Victoria spat, her eyes flashing with deep-seated resentment. — You married into millions, you got the estate, the lifestyle, the perfect family, while I was left to play the grateful little sister living on your allowance! Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?
— You helped Arthur plan this? — Clara asked, her voice laced with disgust. — You helped him put acid in the baby's bottle?
— I didn't care about the baby! — Victoria snapped, though a flash of hesitation crossed her face before her expression hardened again. — Arthur offered me thirty percent of the Sterling offshore trust fund if I helped him eliminate Leo and frame Julian for negligence, making Julian legally unfit to inherit the estate. Arthur promised he would name me as the primary beneficiary of the new family trust as a surviving relative through marriage!
— Arthur was using you, Victoria! — Evelyn yelled, tears of anger spilling over her eyelashes. — Do you honestly think a man who just tried to burn his own son and grandson alive would ever give you a single penny? He would have eliminated you the moment you outlived your usefulness!
— He needs my testimony to prove Julian was unstable! — Victoria argued, though her voice lacked conviction now. She held up the keycard. — I have the access card to the secondary exit behind the garage. I'm leaving, and if you know what's good for you, you won't follow me!
Victoria swiped her keycard against the wall terminal near the service exit, causing the heavy iron door to unlock with a loud buzz. She pushed the door open and vanished into the dark subterranean passageway leading to the outer estate grounds.
— We have to follow her, — Clara whispered to Evelyn. — If she reaches Arthur and Vance, they might overpower Mr. Sterling at the gate!
— First, we make the call, — Evelyn said firmly.
She turned to the panic room keypad, punched in Leo’s birthdate—0512—and the heavy steel door clicked open. Evelyn step inside, picked up the hardwired emergency landline, and dialed the direct emergency number for the regional police precinct.
— Emergency Services, what is your location? — the operator answered instantly.
— My name is Evelyn Sterling. I am at the Sterling Estate on Hillcrest Drive, — Evelyn reported rapidly, her tone clear and focused. — There is an active arson in progress, an attempted murder of my child, and armed individuals on the property. The perpetrator is Arthur Sterling. Send emergency units and medical teams immediately!
— Officers are being dispatched to your location right now, ma'am. Stay in a secure location! — the operator urged.
Evelyn hung up the receiver, looked at Clara, and set her chin with determination. — Clara, I need you to stay inside this panic room with Leo. The door can only be opened from the inside once locked. You'll be completely safe here.
— Mrs. Sterling, you can't go out there alone! — Clara pleaded, holding out her hands.
— My husband is out there fighting for our family, and my sister is trying to ruin everything we love, — Evelyn said, placing her precious baby into Clara’s arms. — Protect my son, Clara. I’ll be back with Julian.
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Evelyn stepped out of the panic room, pressed the internal locking button on the frame, and watched as the heavy steel door sealed shut, securing Clara and Leo inside the safe zone.
Turning on her heel, Evelyn grabbed an iron fireplace poker leaning against the basement wall and sprinted into the subterranean passageway after her sister.
