Chapter 5 - The Recovery and the Trap
By five o'clock the next morning, the sun began to rise over the snow-covered city, casting a warm golden light through the hospital windows.
The doctor stepped out of the ICU, pulling off his mask. "Mrs. Vance?"
I stood up instantly. "How is she?"
"She's awake," the doctor smiled gently. "Her carboxyhemoglobin levels have dropped back into the safe zone. She was very lucky. Another hour in that house, and the damage would have been irreversible."
I covered my face with my hands, letting out a ragged sob of pure relief. "Can I see her?"
"Yes. But she's very weak. Take it easy."
I walked quietly into the room. Piper was sitting up in the hospital bed, an oxygen cannula under her nose, a warm white blanket tucked around her shoulders. Her face was still pale, but the hollow, defeated look in her eyes had begun to fade.
When she saw me, her lip trembled. "Mom..."
I rushed over, wrapping my arms around her as gently as I could, burying my face in her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry I wasn't there."
"She took my phone, Mom," Piper sobbed softly into my shoulder. "She locked me in the laundry room... she said if I tried to leave, she would tell everyone you abandoned me..."
"Shh, baby. It's over. She's in jail. She will never, ever come near you again."
Piper held onto my hand tight, her small fingers squeezing mine. "Mom... she has a notebook. In her study. She wrote down everything she was taking from my trust fund."
I pulled back, looking into my daughter's eyes. "What notebook?"
"A green leather notebook," Piper whispered. "She kept it in her safe behind the painting. I saw her write in it the night before you came home. She was talking to Uncle Julian about transferring the rest of my college money."
A slow, cold smile spread across my face.
May you like
Brooke and Julian thought they were playing a simple game of power and intimidation. But they had forgotten one crucial detail: my daughter was smarter than both of them combined.
I kissed Piper's forehead. "Rest now, sweetie. Mom has one last job to finish."
