Chapter 7: The Hidden Drawer
753 Words
The mansion had never felt so empty.
Alexander was gone.
Police officers had searched every room before leaving, but they hadn't found anything useful.
Outside, reporters still crowded the gates, desperate for any glimpse of the scandal surrounding the Knight family.
Inside, Isabella stood in the middle of Alexander's study.
Dark mahogany shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Hundreds of books, awards, and framed photographs filled the room.
Everything was perfectly organized.
Everything... except one thing.
The desk.
She remembered Alexander's final words.
"In my study... there's a locked drawer..."
She looked down at the small brass key Ethan had given her.
The letter K was engraved into its surface.
"There," Ethan said quietly.
He pointed toward the right side of the desk.
One drawer had no handle.
Only a tiny keyhole.
Isabella inserted the key.
Click.
The hidden compartment slowly slid open.
Inside was a black leather folder.
A sealed envelope.
And an old silver pocket watch.
She picked up the envelope first.
Written across the front were six words.
If you're reading this, I've been arrested.
Her pulse quickened.
She carefully opened it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
---
Dear Isabella,
If you've found this letter, then my enemies have moved sooner than I expected.
The evidence against me is false.
Victor is lying.
I didn't ask you to become my wife because you were convenient.
I chose you because I needed someone who still believes the truth matters.
Inside this folder are documents that prove someone has been stealing from Knight Global for years.
The person responsible isn't working alone.
Someone inside my own family betrayed me.
Don't trust anyone...
...except Ethan.
And one more thing.
Whatever happens...
Don't let Victor inherit the company.
If he does...
Thousands of innocent people will lose everything.
—Alexander
---
Isabella slowly lowered the letter.
She looked at Ethan.
"He knew this would happen."
Ethan nodded.
"For months."
"He expected to be arrested?"
"He expected someone to frame him."
She opened the black folder.
Inside were financial records.
Bank transfers.
Secret contracts.
Shell companies.
Millions of dollars had disappeared over the last five years.
Every transfer ended in the same initials.
V.K.
"Victor Knight," Isabella whispered.
Ethan frowned.
"Not necessarily."
"What do you mean?"
"There are two people in the Knight family with those initials."
She looked up.
"Two?"
"Victor Knight..."
"...and Victoria Knight."
"Who's Victoria?"
Alexander's aunt."
"The family's chief financial officer."
Isabella felt another chill.
"So either Victor..."
"...or his own aunt has been stealing from the company."
"Exactly."
Suddenly...
The grandfather clock in the corner struck one in the morning.
Dong...
Dong...
The sound echoed through the study.
Then...
The silver pocket watch inside the drawer began vibrating.
Isabella frowned.
"A pocket watch?"
She picked it up.
It was ticking.
Loudly.
Too loudly.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"Mrs. Knight..."
"...put it down."
"What?"
"NOW!"
He lunged toward her.
At the same instant—
The pocket watch exploded.
BOOM!
The blast shattered every window in the study.
Glass rained across the room.
The force threw Isabella backward.
Smoke filled the air.
The bookshelf collapsed.
Books scattered everywhere.
Outside, the mansion's security alarms screamed once again.
Ethan struggled to his feet despite his injured shoulder.
"Mrs. Knight!"
"I'm... I'm okay."
Blood trickled from a small cut on her forehead.
The explosion hadn't been large enough to destroy the room...
Only large enough to kill whoever opened the drawer.
Someone had planted the bomb long before tonight.
Someone who knew Alexander kept important secrets there.
Ethan looked toward the broken window.
His face suddenly turned pale.
"Get down!"
A red laser beam appeared on Isabella's chest.
A sniper.
Before she could react—
CRACK!
A bullet tore through the shattered window.
It missed Isabella by inches and struck the wall behind her.
Another shot followed immediately.
CRACK!
Ethan tackled Isabella to the floor.
The third bullet smashed the portrait hanging above the fireplace.
The sniper wasn't trying to scare them anymore.
He was trying to finish the job.
Then, from outside the mansion, a familiar voice echoed through a loudspeaker.
"Mrs. Knight!"
It was Victor.
"You survived the bomb."
A slow clap echoed through the gardens.
"Impressive."
His voice turned cold.
"But you won't survive what's coming next."
The mansion lights suddenly went dark once again.
And somewhere inside the estate...
A child began crying.
Isabella looked at Ethan in confusion.
"There aren't any children living here..."
Ethan's face turned ghostly white.
"Oh no..."
"They've opened the underground wing."
To Be Continued...
- Writer
