The Woman in the Coma
947 Words
The next morning, Alexander’s mansion was surrounded by security.
Police cars stood outside the gates.
Reporters gathered beyond the barriers.
But inside the mansion, Emily felt trapped.
She sat beside her father while a doctor treated his wound.
Alexander stood by the window.
Daniel entered.
“Sir.”
Alexander turned.
“What?”
“Eleanor is asking for you.”
Emily looked up.
Alexander’s face changed.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“Did she say why?”
“She said she remembers more.”
Emily stood.
“I’m coming.”
Alexander looked at her.
“No.”
“I’m involved.”
“Eleanor may be dangerous.”
Emily almost laughed.
“After everything that happened yesterday, you’re worried about Eleanor?”
His jaw tightened.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
They left together.
At the hospital, Eleanor was awake.
Her face looked stronger than the previous day.
When Alexander entered, she stared at him.
“You came.”
“Of course.”
Her eyes moved toward Emily.
“And you brought her.”
Emily stepped forward.
“Who were they?”
Eleanor looked at her.
“Victoria was investigating Blackwood Technologies.”
“I know.”
“She discovered an illegal network.”
“What kind?”
“Money laundering. Bribery. Data theft.”
Alexander’s expression darkened.
“Who was behind it?”
Eleanor hesitated.
“I don’t know the name.”
“Then what do you know?”
“The accident wasn’t meant for Victoria.”
Emily swallowed.
“You already said that.”
Eleanor nodded.
“Because I was there.”
Alexander froze.
“What?”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Three years ago.”
Her voice trembled.
“The night I disappeared.”
Emily looked at Alexander.
Eleanor continued.
“There was a car following us.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was unconscious.”
Alexander looked stunned.
“You were in a coma.”
“Yes.”
“For three years.”
“Yes.”
“Then how do you remember?”
Eleanor opened her eyes.
“Because I wasn’t unconscious the entire time.”
Emily’s breath caught.
“What do you mean?”
“I woke several times.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“I saw people.”
“Who?”
“Doctors. Nurses.”
She hesitated.
“And one man who visited me regularly.”
“Who?”
Eleanor looked at Emily.
“Your father.”
Emily froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
Richard had visited Eleanor?
Why?
Eleanor continued.
“He thought I didn’t know who he was.”
Emily shook her head.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“He begged me not to speak.”
“Why?”
“Because he said your life depended on it.”
Emily felt sick.
Alexander turned away.
He was processing too much.
Then Eleanor said:
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“The night of my accident, Victoria was with me.”
Emily stared.
“What?”
Eleanor nodded.
“She came to meet me.”
“Why?”
“She had discovered the same people who were stealing from Blackwood.”
Alexander’s voice became quiet.
“Victoria knew you?”
“Yes.”
Emily’s heart raced.
“My sister never told me.”
“She wanted to protect you.”
“What happened that night?”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“We were driving when another car hit us.”
“Who was driving?”
“Victoria.”
Emily covered her mouth.
“My sister was driving?”
“Yes.”
“Then how did she survive?”
Eleanor looked at her.
“She did.”
Silence.
Emily couldn’t breathe.
“What?”
“Victoria wasn’t killed in that first crash.”
Alexander stepped forward.
“What happened to her?”
Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears.
“Someone took her from the scene.”
Emily staggered backward.
“No.”
Eleanor nodded.
“I saw them.”
“Who?”
“I saw one of their faces.”
“Who?”
Eleanor whispered:
“Marcus Hale.”
Emily’s blood ran cold.
Marcus had been found dead.
Alexander’s expression became murderous.
“Marcus was already involved three years ago.”
Eleanor nodded.
“But he wasn’t the leader.”
“Who was?”
Eleanor looked toward the door.
“Someone with access to everything.”
Alexander’s face hardened.
“Who?”
Eleanor whispered:
“Your assistant.”
Emily turned.
Daniel stood outside the room.
He had heard everything.
His face was unreadable.
Alexander stared at him.
“Daniel?”
Daniel slowly entered.
“I can explain.”
Emily’s heart began pounding.
Daniel looked at Alexander.
“I never wanted anyone hurt.”
Alexander’s voice was cold.
“Then explain.”
Daniel looked at Emily.
“Victoria discovered the network.”
“Yes.”
“She was going to expose it.”
“Yes.”
“Someone ordered me to stop her.”
“Who?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then he whispered:
“Your grandfather.”
Alexander’s face went completely blank.
“My grandfather is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then who gave the order?”
Daniel looked toward the hospital window.
“The man who inherited everything when your grandfather died.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“My cousin?”
Daniel nodded.
“Jonathan Blackwood.”
Emily felt the room spin.
The contract marriage.
The inheritance.
The company.
The murder.
Everything connected.
Then Daniel said something that changed everything.
“Jonathan knows Emily is alive.”
Alexander grabbed his collar.
“How?”
Daniel’s voice broke.
“Because I told him.”
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