Chapter 3
3
Ice flooded my veins, but the primal urge to survive overrode the terror.
I knew staying would only get all three of us killed. I scooped Leo up and bolted out the back exit of the panic room.
Once outside, I didn't dare stop. I held him tight and ran like a madwoman through the dark.
Leo had already lost consciousness. His small body was limp against my chest, his sleeve soaked through from a severe wound we'd hastily bandaged.
I tripped on the stone path, my knees slamming into the ground. A large patch of skin tore clean off, blood pouring down my leg.
I gritted my teeth and kept running toward the Caldwell Estate.
When I reached their iron gates, I mashed the doorbell and pounded on the metal.
"Ethan! Ethan, please, you have to save Natalie!"
"Ethan, help us!"
The lock finally clicked.
Ethan opened the door in a silk robe. He took one look at me, covered in blood, and merely frowned.
He didn't rush out to catch me like I thought he would. He just stood there, staring at me with utter detachment.
"Why go this far just to put on a show?"
"You and Natalie really will do anything to trick Adrian into coming home. Even dragging Leo into it."
His voice dripped with contempt, treating me like nothing more than a manipulative liar helping Natalie control her husband.
"I'm not acting! Natalie is heavily pregnant and trapped! Armed men broke in!"
"Please, take your guards and save her!"
Ethan eyed the blood on my clothes with an amused smirk and slowly shook his head.
"If Adrian hadn't already warned me you two were faking a home invasion because you were jealous he took Chloe camping... I might have actually believed you."
"Don't listen to him! Those men were hired by a business rival Adrian crushed. They already breached the panic room!"
I yanked out my phone and shoved the call log in his face.
"I'm not lying! I called 911—I'm just terrified they won't get there in time. I'm so scared for Natalie."
"Please, send your men. If we're even a minute late, Natalie is going to die."
"I'm begging you, Ethan. Just go look. Just once. She's pregnant. If you don't go, she'll die!"
Ethan stared at the screen for a few seconds. The coldness in his eyes finally slipped.
"Fine. I'll send someone to check."
He turned to order his security detail to prep a car, but his phone rang.
Ethan glanced at the screen, then at me.
Right in front of me, he answered it and put it on speaker.
My brother's voice immediately filled the air.
"Is Claire there? Don't listen to a word she says."
He let out a dark chuckle.
"Someone just used Natalie's phone to demand a million dollars. Said they'd kill her and Leo if I didn't pay up."
"Hilarious, right?"
Ethan's hand froze in midair.
Adrian's voice was thick with mockery.
"Women will do anything to fight over a man. Don't let them play you."
I snatched the phone from Ethan's hand and screamed into the mic.
"Adrian! Are you even human? Are you going to wait until we're all dead to believe us?"
The line went dead. Ethan stood in silence.
I stared at him, my chest heaving. "You don't actually believe that garbage, do you?"
Ethan avoided my eyes. His expression hardened into ice.
"So it really is an act. Throw them out. And throw that little bastard out with her."
"Ethan, you just promised you'd send someone to save Natalie!"
"I changed my mind."
Even one of the nearby maids couldn't help but speak up.
"Sir, maybe we should send someone to verify. Claire wouldn't lie about something like this."
Ethan's voice turned rigid.
"I said, throw them out."
I clutched Leo tightly, my voice trembling but my words hitting like stones. "Don't touch us! When my dad gets back, he won't let a single one of you off!"
The guards hesitated for a second, no one making the first move.
Ethan's face grew even uglier. "Throw them out."
The guards grabbed me, twisting my arms painfully as they dragged me toward the porch.
Irritated, Ethan marched over and kicked me squarely in the chest.
I tumbled down the stone steps, clutching Leo tightly. Thank God I shielded him; he didn't hit the ground again.
The agonizing pain in my chest stole my breath.
But Ethan wasn't done.
"This is what liars get."
He drew his foot back and kicked me viciously in the jaw. The hard, pointed tip of his shoe scraped against the bone. My skin split open instantly, and hot blood poured down my chin.
"You faked an attack on the entire estate just to force Adrian home. Don't you dare try to pin this on Chloe!"
Tears of pure agony streamed down my face, but I locked my arms around Leo and refused to let go.
Right then, my phone started ringing.
Ethan pulled it from my pocket and sneered.
"Let me guess. Natalie realized the scam isn't working and is calling to strategize?"
He answered it. A calm, professional voice came through loud and clear:
"Is this Claire Mercer? I'm a detective with the Greenwich Police Department."
"The situation at the Mercer Estate has been secured. Natalie Mercer sustained severe injuries, and we are transporting her to the emergency room now. You are listed as her emergency contact. Please get to the hospital immediately."
The smugness on Ethan's face completely shattered.