Chapter 3 - Setting the Trap
The opportunity Vanessa had been waiting for finally arrived when Arthur had to leave for a mandatory medical retreat in Switzerland. He didn't want to go, but Elena insisted. "Your heart needs this, Arthur," she had told him, kissing his cheek. "The baby and I will be fine. We will be right here when you get back."
The moment Arthur's private jet left the tarmac, the atmosphere in the mansion shifted entirely. It was no longer a home; it was a hunting ground. Vanessa immediately dismissed all the staff for a three-day weekend, announcing with a wicked smile that she wanted some private family time with her stepmother. The maids and butlers left without a second thought, leaving only Elena and Vanessa alone in the massive twenty-room estate.
Elena locked herself in the master suite and checked her monitors. Every camera was green, every microphone was live. She checked the backup phone under her heavy, oversized cardigan—fully charged. She texted Detective Ruiz: She’s cleared the house. It happens today. Ruiz texted back instantly: Units are positioned three blocks away. We are ready.
Downstairs, Vanessa was pouring herself a glass of expensive bourbon. Elena watched her on the screen as Vanessa smiled at her reflection in the mirror and pulled on a pair of leather gloves. Vanessa then walked to the bottom of the grand staircase, looking up at the long, steep drop of unforgiving marble. As Elena watched Vanessa’s eyes calculate the physics of a fall, a cold shiver ran down her spine.
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Gently placing a hand on her pregnant belly, Elena whispered, "I'm sorry you have to experience this, little one. But it's the only way to make us safe." She knew she had to give Vanessa exactly what she wanted and play the victim perfectly. The stairs were controllable. Elena had spent the morning strapping thick, padded stunt gear underneath her large maternity clothes. Having studied martial arts falls in college, she knew exactly how to tuck her chin and protect her core.
It was a massive risk, a terrifying gamble, but a mother’s instinct pushed her forward. Elena took a deep breath, steadied her racing heart, and unlocked her bedroom door. The sound of her slippers echoed in the empty house as she stepped into the hallway. Vanessa looked up, her eyes flashing with dangerous excitement. The final act was about to begin as Elena walked slowly toward the top of the stairs, looking down at the monster who wanted her dead.
