Chapter 8 - The Man Behind the Crash
Dominic stared at the photograph.
The man beside Celeste wore his father's watch.
But the face was wrong.
Older.
Harder.
And somehow familiar.
Mara stood beside him, trembling.
“Who is he?”
Dominic didn't answer.
Cole looked at the photograph and stepped backward.
“You know him.”
Dominic's eyes remained fixed on the screen.
“I know the watch.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Cole swallowed.
“The watch belonged to your father.”
“I know.”
“It was buried with him.”
Dominic finally looked at the doctor.
“So whoever is wearing it either robbed a grave…”
He paused.
“…or your story about my father isn't finished.”
Cole said nothing.
Mara looked toward the locked neonatal ward.
“Our daughter is with them.”
Dominic nodded.
“I know.”
“They said come alone.”
“I know.”
“You're going.”
“Yes.”
Mara grabbed his sleeve.
“No.”
Dominic looked down at her hand.
“They have our daughter.”
“And that's exactly why you're not going alone.”
“Mara—”
“I spent eight months protecting her without you.”
His eyes hardened.
“And nearly died doing it.”
“I know.”
“Then don't ask me to sit here while they take her.”
Dominic stared at her.
She looked exhausted.
Pale.
Still recovering from surgery.
But there was something in her eyes he recognized.
The same stubborn courage that had once made him fall in love with her.
“You're staying here,” he said.
“No.”
“You're injured.”
“So is your judgment.”
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Then the hospital lights flickered.
A distant alarm began sounding.
Cole rushed toward the control panel.
“Someone is accessing the old tunnel.”
Dominic turned.
“From where?”
“The east wing.”
“Can it be stopped?”
Cole shook his head.
“Not from here.”
Dominic looked at Mara.
“I'll bring her back.”
Mara's fingers tightened around his sleeve.
“Bring yourself back too.”
He looked at her for a long second.
Then he kissed her forehead.
It was the first time he had touched her with tenderness in almost a year.
“Wait for me.”
He walked away.
Mara watched until the doors closed behind him.
Then she turned toward Cole.
“You're going with him.”
Cole looked startled.
“No.”
“You know the tunnels.”
“That doesn't mean I can protect him.”
“I don't need you to protect him.”
Mara's voice became cold.
“I need you to tell me the truth.”
Cole stared at her.
“What truth?”
“Who is my father?”
The doctor's face changed.
Mara stepped closer.
“You said my biological father was alive.”
“I said he was once alive.”
“Was?”
Cole looked away.
Mara grabbed the edge of his coat.
“Who?”
He hesitated.
Then whispered,
“Victor Arden.”
Mara froze.
“Arden?”
“Yes.”
“Celeste?”
Cole nodded.
Mara's stomach dropped.
“Celeste's father?”
“Yes.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if you know what happened twenty-nine years ago.”
Mara stared at him.
“Tell me.”
Cole looked toward the closed door.
“Your mother loved Victor Arden.”
Mara's breathing stopped.
“Then what was my father doing?”
“Dominic's father discovered the relationship.”
“Why would that matter?”
“Because Victor wasn't just his enemy.”
Cole paused.
“He was his brother.”
Mara stepped backward.
“His brother?”
“Your father's brother.”
Mara shook her head.
“So Dominic and Celeste…”
“Are related.”
She stared at him.
The room seemed to spin.
“Then why is Celeste with Dominic?”
“I don't know.”
“Did she know?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
Cole didn't answer.
Mara's eyes narrowed.
“She's known all along.”
“Yes.”
“Then why?”
Cole looked at the floor.
“Because she wasn't trying to marry Dominic.”
Mara felt a chill.
“What was she trying to do?”
“Get close enough to control him.”
Mara remembered Celeste's hand on Dominic's arm.
The way she always knew where he was.
The way she knew about the pregnancy.
The way she had arrived at the hospital before Dominic's own driver.
“She was involved in the crash.”
Cole looked at her.
“We don't know.”
“You do.”
He remained silent.
Mara's voice broke.
“You know.”
Cole finally nodded.
“Celeste knew where you were going that night.”
“How?”
“She had access to your husband's security system.”
Mara closed her eyes.
“Then she sent someone.”
“No.”
“Don't protect her.”
“I am not.”
“Then tell me.”
Cole's voice dropped.
“She didn't send someone.”
He looked directly at Mara.
“She was there.”
Mara opened her eyes.
“She was in the car?”
“No.”
“Then where?”
“She followed you.”
Mara's blood ran cold.
“She followed me to the intersection.”
“Why?”
“To make sure the crash happened.”
Mara covered her mouth.
“What?”
Cole nodded.
“The brakes on your car had been tampered with.”
Mara stared at him.
“Who told you?”
“The mechanic.”
“Where is he?”
“Dead.”
Silence.
Mara felt sick.
“How long have you known?”
“Since the night of the crash.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“You let me believe it was an accident.”
“Yes.”
“You let Dominic believe I simply walked away.”
“Yes.”
Mara slapped him.
The sound echoed through the empty ward.
Cole didn't move.
Tears filled her eyes.
“You don't get to decide what I deserve to know.”
“No.”
“You don't get to bury my life because you're afraid.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you do it?”
Cole looked broken.
“Because the person behind this has killed everyone who got too close.”
Mara wiped her tears.
“Then we stop running.”
Cole looked at her.
“How?”
Mara looked toward the tunnel entrance.
“We follow Dominic.”
Meanwhile, Dominic moved through the underground passage beneath the hospital.
Cole had given him an old access card.
The tunnel smelled of damp concrete.
His footsteps echoed.
Every few yards, an emergency light flickered overhead.
He reached the first junction.
Three tunnels.
Left.
Right.
Straight.
His phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Where is my daughter?”
A woman's voice answered.
“You're early.”
“Celeste.”
“Don't say my name like that.”
“Where is she?”
“Safe.”
“If you touch her—”
“You still think this is about hurting Mara.”
Dominic stopped.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“You stole my daughter for the truth?”
“No.”
A pause.
“I stole her because you never bothered to look for the truth yourself.”
Dominic's jaw tightened.
“Tell me where she is.”
“You'll see her soon.”
“Then why call?”
“To give you a warning.”
“What warning?”
“Don't trust the doctor.”
Dominic froze.
“Cole?”
“Yes.”
“He helped Mara.”
“He helped destroy her life.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“Explain.”
“He knew who Mara was.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Celeste's voice became colder.
“He knew before you met her.”
Dominic said nothing.
“He knew she was Victor Arden's daughter.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“And he never told you.”
“You're lying.”
“I expected you to say that.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“You're standing above her.”
Dominic looked down.
“What?”
“Keep walking.”
The call ended.
Dominic stared at the phone.
Then continued.
At the next junction, he noticed something on the wall.
A child's handprint.
Small.
Covered in dust.
Beside it was a faded number.
019.
He touched it.
Then he heard something.
A baby's cry.
Ahead.
He ran.
The tunnel opened into a hidden underground chamber.
A single light hung from the ceiling.
A crib stood beneath it.
Empty.
Dominic approached slowly.
A blanket lay inside.
Pink.
His daughter's blanket.
Beside it was another photograph.
He picked it up.
It showed Mara standing outside the hospital eight months earlier.
She was pregnant.
Someone stood behind her.
Dominic zoomed in.
The man was holding a phone.
Watching her.
Dominic recognized him.
His security chief.
The same man he had trusted for twelve years.
Dominic's face hardened.
His phone rang.
“Boss.”
He answered.
“Where are you?”
“At the hospital.”
“No.”
Dominic stared at the photograph.
“You're lying.”
Silence.
Then the security chief said,
“Boss…”
Dominic's voice became deadly calm.
“You were following Mara.”
Another silence.
“You knew about the pregnancy.”
No answer.
“You helped Celeste.”
Still nothing.
Dominic looked at the tunnel.
“Where is my daughter?”
The security chief whispered,
“I'm sorry.”
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“Where?”
“I couldn't stop them.”
“Who?”
The line went dead.
Dominic immediately called back.
No answer.
He looked at the photograph again.
Then noticed something in the background.
A black SUV.
The same vehicle from the hospital.
The license plate was visible.
Dominic memorized it.
He turned toward the tunnel.
Then stopped.
Someone was standing at the far end.
A woman.
Red dress.
Celeste.
She held the baby.
Dominic's breath caught.
“Mara's daughter.”
Celeste smiled faintly.
“You came alone.”
“Put her down.”
“She looks just like Mara.”
“Put her down.”
Celeste rocked the baby gently.
“She has your eyes.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“If you hurt her, there won't be a place on earth you can hide.”
Celeste smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“This baby isn't the reason you're here.”
“She's my daughter.”
“Yes.”
“Then she's the reason.”
“No.”
Celeste looked past him.
“She's the proof.”
“Proof of what?”
Celeste's eyes shifted toward the darkness behind Dominic.
“Ask your doctor.”
Dominic turned.
Nobody was there.
He looked back.
Celeste was gone.
So was the baby.
Dominic ran toward the passage.
Nothing.
Only a small pink blanket remained on the floor.
He picked it up.
His hands shook.
Then he heard footsteps behind him.
He turned.
Dr. Cole stood at the entrance.
“Where is she?”
Cole looked at the empty tunnel.
“She took the baby.”
Dominic grabbed him.
“You knew.”
“I knew she might.”
“You sent her here.”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Cole's face tightened.
“I don't know.”
Dominic shoved him against the wall.
“Enough.”
Cole stared at him.
“You need to leave.”
“I'm not leaving without my daughter.”
“You can't save her here.”
“Why?”
Cole looked toward the darkness.
“Because this tunnel doesn't lead to the estate anymore.”
Dominic frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Your father changed it.”
“When?”
“Before he died.”
“Where does it lead?”
Cole swallowed.
“To the old family vault.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“My father never had a vault.”
“He did.”
“Where?”
Cole pointed to a sealed iron door.
“Behind that.”
Dominic stepped closer.
The door had no handle.
Only a keypad.
Cole looked at him.
“Your father built it for one purpose.”
“What purpose?”
“To hide the child he was afraid would destroy him.”
Dominic stared at the keypad.
There were four empty spaces.
Then the system suddenly activated.
A red light appeared.
IDENTITY REQUIRED.
Dominic looked at Cole.
“What do I enter?”
Cole shook his head.
“I don't know.”
The keypad beeped.
A message appeared.
ENTER THE NAME OF THE FIRST HEIR.
Dominic stared.
Then the system spoke aloud.
May you like
“Welcome home, Mara…”
The iron door unlocked.
