Chapter 7
The fire did not reach Sophia’s room.
That was the first mercy.
The second was smaller.
Detective Monroe’s agents had already removed the main patient files before the flames started.
Whoever lit the fire had destroyed copies.
Not originals.
Diane’s world was finally running out of places to hide.
Sophia was taken to a hospital in Milwaukee.
She would not let go of Michael’s hand.
Not in the ambulance.
Not in intake.
Not when the doctor asked questions.
He did not let go either.
I watched them from the corner with my phone in my lap, checking Lily’s updates every five minutes.
Harper sent photos.
Lily sleeping.
Lily awake.
Lily chewing on a blanket corner.
Lily safe.
I needed each one like oxygen.
At dawn, Sophia gave her statement.
Her voice was weak.
Her memory was broken in places.
But the core of it was clear.
She had loved Arthur Bennett.
Arthur had loved her.
Diane found out when Michael was two.
She threatened Arthur with scandal.
She threatened Sophia with losing her son.
Then Arthur changed his will secretly.
Michael would inherit through his bloodline.
Diane would never control his trust.
Sophia knew.
Diane knew Sophia knew.
The fire happened two weeks later.
Sophia remembered smoke.
A cloth over her mouth.
Waking up in Rosehaven under another name.
“They told me Michael died,” she whispered.
Michael closed his eyes.
I covered my mouth.
“They showed me ashes,” she said. “A little shoe. They said it was his.”
Michael bent forward like pain had folded him.
Sophia touched his hair.
“I wanted to die too.”
He looked up quickly.
“No.”
“I did,” she said. “But some part of me kept saying Diane lies. Diane always lies.”
Detective Monroe’s eyes shone.
Sophia continued.
“Arthur visited once.”
Michael froze.
“My father?”
“He found me. He promised he would take me home. He said he had evidence.”
“What happened?”
Sophia looked down.
“The next week, they told me he died.”
Heart attack.
Another Bennett tragedy.
Another convenient death.
Harper arrived by afternoon with a court order protecting Sophia and Lily.
She also brought news.
“Judge Price has been arrested.”
Michael looked up.
“For what?”
“Taking money from Diane through Haven Medical Holdings.”
“And Diane?”
Harper’s mouth tightened.
“She is requesting bail again.”
I laughed.
It came out hard and ugly.
“She threw my baby over a balcony.”
“And claims mental distress.”
Sophia flinched.
“She will pretend weakness when power fails.”
We all looked at her.
She knew Diane better than any of us.
Michael asked, “What does she do next?”
Sophia’s gaze shifted to me.
“She takes what you love and makes you choose.”
My blood went cold.
My phone rang.
Harper’s name appeared, though she was standing in front of me.
I looked at the screen.
Spoofed call.
I answered on speaker.
Diane’s voice filled the room.
“Emma, you should have stayed with your daughter.”
My heart stopped.
Michael stood so fast his chair hit the wall.
“What did you do?”
Diane laughed softly.
“Nothing yet.”
Harper was already calling the hospital on her real phone.
No answer.
Diane continued.
“Lily is safe for now. But your lawyer is careless. Police are predictable. Nurses like money.”
I could not breathe.
Detective Monroe signaled for trace.
Diane said, “Michael, bring Sophia to Bennett Manor. Bring the original trust file. Or Emma loses the only child that matters.”
Michael’s face went white with rage.
“You touch Lily and I will—”
“No, you won’t,” Diane said. “You are still the boy who cried when I closed doors.”
Sophia lifted her head.
Her voice was fragile but clear.
“He is not that boy anymore.”
Silence.
Diane heard her.
“Sophia.”
“Yes.”
“You should have died in that fire.”
Sophia’s hand tightened around Michael’s.
“And yet I am here.”
Diane hung up.
Harper turned to me.
“Lily is secure. The room is locked down. The hospital line was jammed, but officers have eyes on her.”
My knees gave out anyway.
Michael caught me.
For once, I let him.
Detective Monroe looked at us.
May you like
“She wants you at the manor because something is there.”
Sophia whispered, “Arthur’s vault.”
