Chapter 3 - The Trap Closes
By 3:00 PM, the storm outside had reached hurricane-like ferocity. Thunder shook the floorboards of the Whitmore house.
Inside the nursery, Oliver’s condition was deteriorating rapidly. His little chest heaved as he fought for every single breath. Maya was panicked, tears streaming down her face as she tried to soothe him.
"It's okay, baby, Mommy's right here," she cried, stroking his damp hair.
She needed to give him a breathing treatment, right now. She rushed to the changing table, grabbing the medication bottles with trembling hands.
Suddenly, the nursery door clicked shut. Maya spun around.
Evelyn stood there, her posture rigid, her eyes completely devoid of warmth. In one hand, she held a thick manila folder.
"What are you doing?" Maya asked, her voice shaking.
"What needs to be done," Evelyn said coldly. She walked over to the dresser, setting the folder down with a heavy thud. "Oliver is suffering, Maya. And he is suffering because you are incompetent."
"He has asthma! It's the weather!" Maya screamed, turning back to prepare the medicine.
"He has a mother who is dangerously unhinged," Evelyn corrected, her voice raising a fraction. "I have documented your erratic behavior for months. Your sleep deprivation. Your paranoia."
Maya froze, the medicine dropper slipping from her fingers. "You've been spying on me?"
"I have been protecting my grandson," Evelyn stated. She opened the folder, revealing stacks of legal documents. "These are emergency guardianship papers. They grant me full custody of Oliver."
Maya felt all the blood drain from her face. "You're insane. Ryan would never agree to this."
"Ryan will agree when he sees the state you are in. When he sees how you hurt me."
Maya backed away, clutching her sick child to her chest. "What are you talking about?"
Evelyn’s eyes darkened, a terrifying smile creeping onto her lips. "If you sign these papers right now and agree to leave this house, I will let you walk away."
"I will never leave my son!" Maya screamed, her maternal fury finally igniting.
"I figured you would say that," Evelyn whispered.
Before Maya could react, Evelyn lunged forward. She didn't go for Maya. She went for the changing table.
With a violent sweep of her arm, Evelyn knocked the heavy brass lamp off the dresser. It crashed onto the floor, shattering into pieces. She grabbed the tray of medicine bottles, throwing them across the room. Pills and liquid scattered everywhere.
Then, Evelyn grabbed the tiny blue blanket from the crib, twisting it and throwing it on the floor to make the room look like a war zone.
May you like
"Stop! What are you doing?!" Maya sobbed, shielding Oliver from the flying debris.
Evelyn turned to her, her face twisting into a mask of pure malice. The trap was fully set. The stage was decorated for a tragedy. And Evelyn was about to deliver her masterclass performance.
