Chapter 15: The Prison Beneath the Mansion
Chapter 15: The Prison Beneath the Mansion
Victor Hale’s estate was known as one of the most beautiful properties in the country.
A massive mansion.
Perfect gardens.
Private security.
A symbol of success.
But beneath the luxury was a secret.
A secret hidden from everyone.
A prison.
Ryan had discovered it years earlier.
And he had never forgotten what he saw.
“There are rooms beneath the house,” Ryan explained.
Leah stared at him.
“You knew?”
“I was nineteen.”
“And you did nothing?”
Ryan looked ashamed.
“I was afraid.”
Leah wanted to hate him.
She did hate him.
But she also saw something she had never seen before.
Regret.
Real regret.
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
Ryan handed her a key.
“Because I want him stopped.”
Leah looked at the key.
“Why help me now?”
Ryan answered honestly.
“Because I finally realized Victor was never going to let me leave.”
Back at the Carter estate, Leah showed Ethan everything.
Including the photograph.
Ethan immediately recognized Daniel.
“He’s alive.”
Leah looked at him.
“You knew?”
“No.”
He touched the photograph.
“But Dad suspected.”
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“Daniel…”
She whispered the name.
Leah noticed.
“You knew him?”
Evelyn looked away.
“Yes.”
The room went silent again.
“Everyone knows everyone except me.”
Her mother stepped forward.
“Daniel saved my life.”
“What?”
“Before Victor took control of everything, Daniel discovered what his brother was doing.”
“Victor’s own brother?”
“Yes.”
Evelyn’s voice shook.
“He tried to expose him.”
Leah looked at the photograph.
“And he lost everything.”
“Yes.”
That night, Leah made a decision.
She would go after Victor.
Not for revenge.
For the truth.
The plan was simple.
Enter Victor’s estate.
Find Daniel.
Recover the final evidence.
Expose Victor publicly.
But Victor was already waiting.
Because someone had betrayed them.
As Leah, Ethan, and Ryan prepared to leave, their location was revealed.
Security cameras inside the estate suddenly activated.
Victor appeared on every screen.
He smiled.
“I was wondering how long it would take.”
Leah froze.
“You knew.”
Victor laughed.
“Of course.”
His eyes moved toward Ryan.
“And I knew exactly who would betray me.”
Ryan’s face changed.
“What?”
Victor smiled.
“Did you really think I trusted you?”
The doors behind them locked.
Alarms began ringing.
Victor continued:
“You were never my partner, Ryan.”
May you like
A pause.
“You were my insurance policy.”
