Chapter 4

Pain throbbed in my arm, a dull counterpoint to the frantic beating of my heart.

Bianca helped me back to my room, her face pale with anger.

"That man is unbelievable," she seethed, cleaning my wounds. "Accusing you, when that mutt of hers clearly went for your kids!"

"It's part of the plan, B," I said, weariness settling deep in my bones. "Cassandra' s plan. Damian' s too blind to see it."

The scratches were deep. The retreat doctor stitched them up, his manner coolly professional. No sympathy.

I knew I couldn't stay here. Serenity Pines was a trap, slowly closing.

Damian' s accusation about the dog was just the beginning.

Cassandra would escalate. She always did.

That night, when the retreat was quiet, I made my move.

Bianca stood guard at the door.

I used the burner phone I' d managed to keep hidden, a relic from Mark' s more clandestine life.

There was only one person who might help.

Genevieve Thorne.

Her private number was an old one, given to Mark' s father, the former ambassador, years ago. A long shot.

It rang three times. I almost hung up.

"Genevieve Thorne speaking." Her voice was crisp, authoritative.

"Mrs. Thorne," I began, my voice trembling slightly. "It's Eleanor Hayes. Captain Mark Hayes' widow."

A pause. "I know who you are, child. What is it?"

"I need your help," I said, the words rushing out. "I'm in danger. My children are in danger."

I quickly, desperately, explained my fear, not the past life, but the current threat from Damian and Cassandra.

I invoked Mark' s name, his service, the respect her late husband had for Mark's father.

"Damian is not himself," I pleaded. "He's being manipulated. Cassandra Vance... she's dangerous."

Another silence. Longer this time.

"Mark Hayes was a good man," Genevieve said finally, her voice softer. "His sacrifice was immense. And your father-in-law was a dear friend."

Hope flickered within me.

"What do you need from me, Eleanor?"

"Escape," I whispered. "I need to disappear with my children. Somewhere Damian can't find us. Somewhere safe."

I could hear her breathing on the other end.

"Damian is my son," she said, a note of sadness in her voice. "But he has been... misguided for some time now. Cassandra Vance is a viper."

She knew. She saw it too.

"If what you fear is true, then Aethel Corp is no place for Mark Hayes' children."

"I will make some arrangements," Genevieve Thorne stated. "Be ready. And Eleanor?"

"Yes?"

"Be strong. For those babies."

The line clicked dead.

I stared at the phone, a fragile lifeline.

Genevieve Thorne. The Empress Dowager. My only hope.

But could she act fast enough? Cassandra was already weaving her next web.