THE TRAP CLOSES
1568 Words
Chapter 22 – The Trap Closes
The following morning, Carter Manor was unusually quiet.
Olivia sat in the foundation office inside the mansion, carefully reviewing the documents the young woman had left behind. Beside her sat the medical reports, hospital bills, and the Carter Foundation's application forms.
She read every page twice.
Nothing seemed unusual.
A gentle knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Mr. Harris entered.
"Mrs. Carter, the Foundation's director is here."
"Please send her in."
Moments later, Grace Sullivan, the director of the Carter Foundation, entered carrying a tablet.
"Good morning, Mrs. Carter."
"Good morning, Grace."
Grace sat opposite her.
"I've reviewed the family's application."
"And?"
"The documents appear complete."
Olivia smiled with relief.
"So the little boy can receive help?"
Grace nodded.
"Normally, yes."
"But..."
Olivia noticed the hesitation.
"But what?"
"We haven't been able to verify the hospital records yet."
Olivia frowned slightly.
"Is something wrong?"
"The hospital's records department hasn't responded."
"They're experiencing a system outage after yesterday's storm."
Olivia looked back at Ben's photograph attached to the application.
The little boy's smile reminded her so much of Mason.
"I don't want him to wait if he really needs treatment."
Grace nodded.
"I understand."
"I'll keep trying."
---
Meanwhile...
At Carter Group Headquarters...
Daniel entered Ethan's office carrying a folder.
"Sir."
Ethan looked up.
"What is it?"
"Our security team has identified the woman who visited Carter Manor yesterday."
Ethan immediately stopped reading the report in his hands.
"And?"
"They can't find any official records of her."
His expression darkened.
"What about the child?"
"Nothing."
"No school records."
"No medical records."
"No residential address."
Daniel placed the file on the desk.
"It's as if they appeared out of nowhere."
Ethan slowly closed his laptop.
"Find them."
"Immediately."
"Yes, sir."
As Daniel turned to leave, Ethan added,
"And don't tell Olivia yet."
"I don't want her frightened unless we're certain."
---
Across town...
Inside an abandoned warehouse...
The frightened young woman sat quietly in a chair.
The little boy happily played with toy cars on the floor.
Victor Hayes walked inside.
The woman immediately stood.
"Sir..."
Victor looked at her calmly.
"You did well."
She lowered her head.
"I don't like lying to her."
Victor smiled faintly.
"Neither do I."
"But sometimes..."
"...good people make the easiest targets."
He handed her an envelope.
"Your payment."
She accepted it with trembling hands.
"My son..."
"...he isn't really sick."
Victor looked toward the little boy.
"I know."
"You've done exactly what I asked."
The woman hesitated.
"Will Mrs. Carter lose money?"
Victor smiled.
"That's not the point."
"The money means nothing."
"I want something much more valuable."
The woman looked confused.
"What?"
Victor's smile slowly disappeared.
"Ethan Carter's trust."
---
Back at Carter Manor...
Olivia couldn't stop thinking about Ben.
That afternoon, she decided to visit the hospital herself.
"I'll only be gone for an hour," she told Mr. Harris.
"The Foundation deserves answers."
Mr. Harris immediately called Daniel.
Within minutes, two security vehicles prepared to escort Olivia.
---
At the hospital...
Olivia walked directly to the information desk.
"Good afternoon."
"I'm trying to verify a patient's medical records."
The receptionist smiled politely.
"Of course."
"What is the patient's name?"
"Ben Foster."
The receptionist searched the computer.
After nearly a minute, she frowned.
"I'm sorry."
"I can't find anyone by that name."
Olivia blinked.
"Could you check again?"
The receptionist searched once more.
Then a third time.
Finally, she looked up.
"There has never been a patient registered here under that name."
Olivia felt her heart sink.
"Are you certain?"
"I'm very sorry..."
"...but yes."
For the first time since meeting the young boy...
A feeling of unease settled deep inside her heart.
---
At that very moment...
Ethan's phone rang.
Daniel's voice came through immediately.
"Sir."
"We found the hospital."
"And?"
"They've confirmed the medical documents are fake."
Ethan shot to his feet.
"Where's Olivia?"
Daniel hesitated.
"She's already at the hospital."
Ethan's face lost all color.
"Get the car."
"Now."
Without another word, he ran out of his office.
For the first time in years...
The calm and composed Ethan Carter was afraid.
Not for his company.
Not for his reputation.
But for the woman waiting at the hospital...
Completely unaware that she had just stepped into Victor Hayes' carefully prepared trap.
Olivia stood frozen in the hospital lobby.
She looked down at the medical documents in her hands once more.
The receptionist's words echoed in her mind.
"There has never been a patient registered here under that name."
Her heart began to race.
Had she really been deceived?
Just then, her phone rang.
The screen displayed Ethan.
She answered immediately.
"Ethan?"
"Olivia!"
His voice was unusually urgent.
"Where are you?"
"I'm still at the hospital."
"Don't leave the building."
"What happened?"
"I'm on my way."
Before she could ask another question, the call ended.
A strange feeling settled over her.
Something was terribly wrong.
---
Outside the hospital...
Across the street...
A black SUV remained parked beneath a row of trees.
Inside, two men watched the entrance carefully.
One of them picked up his phone.
"Sir."
"Mrs. Carter is still inside."
Victor Hayes' voice came through calmly.
"Good."
"Wait for my signal."
The man lowered the phone.
Neither of them noticed another black vehicle speeding toward the hospital.
---
Less than ten minutes later...
A sleek black Rolls Royce came to a sharp stop outside the entrance.
Ethan stepped out before the driver had fully opened the door.
He hurried inside.
His eyes searched the crowded lobby until he finally saw her.
Relief washed over him.
Without thinking...
He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Olivia.
She froze in surprise.
"E-Ethan..."
He held her tightly for several seconds.
Only then did he slowly let go.
"Are you alright?"
She nodded.
"I'm fine."
"I just..."
She looked down at the papers.
"The documents were fake."
"I know."
"You knew?"
"I found out a few minutes ago."
Olivia looked guilty.
"I'm sorry."
"I should have been more careful."
Ethan gently took the papers from her hands.
"You were trying to help."
"You did nothing wrong."
"But I believed them."
"Because you have a kind heart."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"And I never want you to lose that."
Her eyes became misty.
"You aren't angry?"
He shook his head.
"I'm angry..."
"...at the person who used your kindness."
---
Daniel entered the hospital a moment later with two security officers.
"The perimeter is secure, sir."
Ethan nodded.
"Let's go home."
As they walked outside, Ethan instinctively placed himself between Olivia and the street.
She noticed immediately.
"You're protecting me."
He looked ahead.
"Yes."
"You don't have to."
"I do."
She smiled softly.
"I can walk by myself."
"I know."
"But I'd rather be beside you."
Her heart fluttered.
Without saying anything, she slipped her hand into his.
He held it firmly all the way to the car.
---
Across the street...
Victor watched everything from inside the black SUV.
His assistant frowned.
"They're leaving."
Victor didn't look disappointed.
"No."
"They're exactly where I wanted them."
The assistant looked confused.
"But the plan failed."
Victor smiled.
"Did it?"
He watched Ethan open the car door for Olivia before helping her inside.
"Now Ethan knows someone is targeting her."
"He'll become distracted."
"He'll make emotional decisions."
"And emotional businessmen..."
"...make expensive mistakes."
The assistant nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Victor's smile widened.
"This was never about fooling Olivia."
"It was about changing Ethan."
---
Back at Carter Manor...
William was waiting anxiously in the living room.
The moment he saw them enter, he stood.
"What happened?"
Olivia explained everything from beginning to end.
When she finished, William sighed deeply.
"I was afraid something like this would happen."
Olivia lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
William walked over and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't need to apologize."
"The only mistake you made..."
"...was believing that everyone has a heart as kind as yours."
Tears welled in Olivia's eyes.
"I just wanted to help."
"I know."
William smiled warmly.
"And never stop helping."
"But next time..."
He looked toward Ethan.
"...let this stubborn grandson of mine worry with you."
Ethan gave a small smile.
"I intend to."
Olivia looked at him.
"You really are going to worry about me all the time, aren't you?"
He met her gaze without hesitation.
"Yes."
There was no teasing.
No hesitation.
Just a simple, honest answer.
For a moment, Olivia forgot everything that had happened that day.
She smiled.
"Then I'll let you."
---
Late that night...
Ethan stood alone on the balcony outside his study.
The city lights shimmered in the distance.
Daniel stepped outside.
"Sir."
"Our investigators found the woman."
Ethan turned immediately.
"Where is she?"
"She disappeared."
"But..."
Daniel handed him a small photograph.
"Our surveillance team captured this."
Ethan looked down.
The picture showed the young woman entering a black luxury sedan.
Standing beside the open door...
Was Victor Hayes.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"So..."
"It really was you."
He closed his hand around the photograph.
His eyes turned cold.
"You wanted my attention."
A determined look settled across his face.
"You have it now."
Far across the city, Victor stood in his penthouse looking over the skyline.
He raised a glass of champagne toward the window.
"Welcome to the game, Ethan."
"And this time..."
"...only one of us will walk away the winner.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD