Chapter 5 - The Ashford Bloodline
Nadia broke the lock.
They escaped through a service corridor while alarms screamed through the facility.
Vivian supported her mother.
Harrison's private security team arrived seven minutes later.
But by then, Northbridge was empty.
The employees were gone.
The files had been destroyed.
And Eleanor had disappeared.
For the next two days, Boston newspapers exploded with headlines.
ASHFORD HEIRESS ATTACKS MAID AT CHARITY GALA
MYSTERY WOMAN EXPOSES ASHFORD FAMILY SCANDAL
ASHFORD FOUNDATION FACES FRAUD QUESTIONS
But the story beneath the headlines was far more dangerous.
Daniel Cross vanished.
His phone was found in a hotel room.
His passport was gone.
His bank accounts had been emptied.
And Vivian's mother, Margaret, refused to leave the Ashford estate.
She knew someone was coming.
She was right.
At 2:14 a.m., Nadia woke to footsteps outside her room.
She opened the door.
Nobody.
Then her phone rang.
A distorted voice said:
“You should have stayed a maid.”
Nadia's blood ran cold.
“Who are you?”
“You know exactly who I am.”
“No.”
A pause.
Then:
“Ask Harrison what happened to Michael Reed.”
The call ended.
Nadia went downstairs.
Harrison was already in the study.
“You heard it.”
“Yes.”
He looked exhausted.
“There is something I never told you.”
Nadia crossed her arms.
“Start talking.”
Harrison opened an old photograph.
It showed five men.
Harrison.
Michael Reed.
A young Eleanor.
Daniel's father, Richard Cross.
And another man.
Nadia stared.
“Who is that?”
Harrison whispered:
“Your father's brother.”
Nadia frowned.
“My father was an only child.”
“That is what you were told.”
Harrison handed her a file.
The man in the photograph was named Thomas Reed.
Nadia's uncle.
He had disappeared twenty-five years earlier.
Harrison continued.
“Thomas created Northbridge.”
Nadia's heart sank.
“Why?”
“Because he discovered the foundation's money was being stolen.”
“By Eleanor?”
“Yes.”
“Then why would he help her?”
“He didn't.”
Harrison looked toward the window.
“Thomas was murdered.”
Nadia went still.
“What happened to his body?”
“We never found it.”
A sound came from behind them.
Margaret stood in the doorway.
“I know where it is.”
Everyone turned.
Margaret looked at Nadia.
“Your uncle wasn't murdered.”
“What?”
“He escaped.”
“Where?”
Margaret's face tightened.
“London.”
Nadia stared.
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if you know what happened next.”
Margaret walked toward the desk.
“Thomas built Northbridge to hide evidence from Eleanor.”
“But Eleanor took control.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Margaret looked at Vivian.
“Through Daniel's family.”
Vivian whispered:
“My fiancé?”
“His father helped Eleanor.”
Vivian covered her mouth.
Margaret continued.
“Daniel didn't enter your life because he loved you.”
Vivian looked devastated.
“Why?”
“To marry you.”
Harrison nodded.
“The Ashford Trust has a clause.”
Nadia looked at him.
“What clause?”
“Anyone who marries the sole Ashford heir gains temporary control over certain assets.”
Vivian's eyes widened.
“But only if the marriage is valid.”
“Yes.”
“And if I'm declared mentally incompetent?”
Harrison's expression changed.
“They could gain even more.”
Nadia understood.
“That was the plan.”
Margaret nodded.
“They intended to make Vivian look unstable.”
Vivian remembered every argument.
Every moment Daniel had told her she was imagining things.
Every time Eleanor had called her emotional.
Every time Daniel had quietly suggested she see a therapist.
She had thought it was concern.
It was preparation.
Then Nadia found something in the file.
A recording.
She pressed play.
Daniel's voice filled the room.
“Once Vivian signs the trust documents, Eleanor gets control.”
A second voice answered.
Eleanor.
“And Nadia?”
Daniel laughed.
“She'll be easy.”
Nadia's face hardened.
“What did he mean?”
The recording continued.
“She's the only unpredictable variable.”
Eleanor replied:
“Then remove her.”
The recording ended.
Silence.
Margaret looked at Nadia.
“They're going to kill you.”
Nadia nodded.
“I know.”
Then Harrison's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What?”
Everyone watched him.
“What happened?”
May you like
Harrison slowly lowered the phone.
“Daniel has taken Vivian.”
