Chapter 4: Stillness

The moment the lights went out, I felt Vance’s hand tighten around mine.

Nothing about it felt comforting.

It was controlling.

My only safety net sat at the foot of the bed, softly snoring in the darkness.

I forced my breathing to stay steady. Slow. Even. Controlled.

If I panicked, the monitor would give me away.

Or at least… it should have.

A thought suddenly crept into my mind.

Wait.

Earlier Vance said he had been looking for me for weeks.

Had my father not told him I’d been admitted here?

That didn’t make sense. My father would have used that information against Vance the moment he had the chance. Their relationship had never been warm. If anything, it had always felt like a polite standoff.

No.

Something about this felt wrong.

Minutes stretched into what felt like an hour. The room remained silent except for my father’s faint snoring and the distant hum of hospital equipment somewhere down the hall.

Then I heard it.

A soft click.

It wasn’t the light.

A cold realization spread through me like ice water.

The beeping.

I couldn’t hear the beeping anymore.

The monitor.

Vance must have turned it off at the wall.

My chest rose faster despite my efforts to stay calm. Fear clawed its way through my body.

This was it.

He was going to finish what he started.

“You were supposed to die quietly.”

His whisper brushed against my ear, meant for me and me alone.

My entire body went rigid.

I didn’t move.

I didn’t breathe.

I waited.

“Your position as chairwoman should have been mine,” Vance continued softly. “But I suppose I can settle for the generous insurance policy your family insisted on.”

His voice carried amusement.

Like this was all just an inconvenience.

My throat burned as I forced out a single word.

“Why?”

The sound startled both of us.

It was the first word I had managed since he entered the room.

In the darkness, I could barely make out his face now that my eyes had adjusted. His jaw tightened slightly.

For a moment he said nothing.

Then his fingers squeezed my hand painfully hard.

A warning.

If I wanted to live through the next few minutes, I needed to obey it.

My mind raced.

I had two options.

The first was to scream. Now that my voice worked, even if barely, maybe someone would hear me.

But every previous attempt had failed. Even earlier with water, my voice had been nothing more than a broken croak.

Right now, water wasn’t exactly an option.

The second choice was to pretend I was losing consciousness again.

And pray for a miracle.

I widened my eyes slightly, letting them flutter as if exhaustion was overtaking me, before slowly letting them close.

“Knock knock.”

The cheerful voice cut through the darkness.

“You’re very popular today. You have another visitor.”

Nurse Joy.

Relief washed through me so suddenly it almost made me dizzy.

“I’ll be back in five minutes to do some observations and change your drip bag,” she added before leaving the room again.

My father stirred awake.

I heard the unmistakable sound of heels approaching the bed.

“Ah, perfect timing, Anya,” my father greeted warmly. “I was wondering when you’d come.”

No.

No, no, no.

I forced in a breath.

“Murderers,” I whispered weakly.

The word barely escaped my lips before dizziness swept over me.

Vance’s grip on my hand tightened again.

But judging by the lack of reaction from my father, he either hadn’t heard me… or he had misunderstood.

I opened my eyes just enough to see Vance and Anya exchange a quick, satisfied look.

Anya grabbed the empty paper cup from beside the bed and crushed it lightly in her hand before turning toward my father.

She greeted him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Mr. Hawkins, I think Charlotte is asking for water,” Anya said sweetly. “Do you know where we could get a cup and straw for her?”

My father cleared his throat, still half asleep.

“Well… since you’re here, I think I’m comfortable stepping out for a moment. I’ll grab one on my way back.”

Terror settled deep in my chest.

My father had always been skeptical of Vance. Of any man who tried to get close to me, really.

But Anya?

My best friend since we were eleven years old.

He trusted her like family.

I heard his footsteps retreat down the hallway.

“I’ll be back shortly, Lottie,” he said gently. “You’re in good hands.”

Good hands.

If only he knew.

Did he not notice the silence?

The absence of the monitor’s steady rhythm?

Hope began to drain from me.

So I did the only thing I could.

I closed my eyes and pretended to fall asleep.

“She’s out just like that?” Anya asked quietly.

“Yes,” Vance replied. “She tends to pass out when she’s overwhelmed. Happens more often than you’d think.”

Anya let out a soft laugh.

“I suppose years of preparation would do that to someone.”

“Keep your voice down,” Vance muttered.

“Oh relax,” she replied. “She’s barely breathing.”

A pause followed.

Then Anya spoke again.

“Honestly, the study was my favorite part.”

Vance scoffed quietly.

“You mean the renovation?”

“Yes,” she whispered with amusement. “Convincing her it needed a full makeover. New walls, new shelves, new paint.”

My stomach twisted.

My study.

“That contractor nearly ruined everything,” Vance muttered. “If he’d asked too many questions, the entire plan would’ve collapsed.”

“But he didn’t,” Anya said lightly. “And Charlotte practically lived in that room.”

“Eight hours a day,” Vance replied coldly.

A chill ran through me.

“Between the vitamins, the tea, and that little renovation project,” Anya continued, “I’m surprised she lasted this long.”

“Patience,” Vance said. “Good things take time.”

Anya moved closer.

“I’ve missed you.”

I heard the faint rustle of fabric.

A low grunt escaped Vance.

“Not here, kitten,” he murmured, his voice dropping to something darker. “We still have loose ends to tie up.”

I wanted to gag.

Unfortunately my throat was so dry that even the thought felt impossible.

And somehow…

I knew those loose ends included me.