Chapter 1 - Trapped | hotgossipreport

The mansion’s underground garage was dead silent when Elena regained consciousness. Her hands were tied behind her back, and she was lying on the concrete floor, directly beneath a hydraulic car lift.

Hovering right above her was her husband's heavy black car.

Elena tried to sit up, but a rope bound her ankles, keeping her completely immobilized. She was eight months pregnant. Every slight movement sent a wave of painful pressure through her abdomen.

"Daniel?" she called out, her voice trembling. "Is anyone there?"

The sharp click of heels echoed across the concrete.

Victoria, her mother-in-law, stepped out from behind a pillar and approached the control panel. She was wearing black leather gloves and holding a small folder that Elena recognized instantly.

Inside were the documents she had found earlier that morning.

"You were looking for something that didn't belong to you," Victoria said coldly.

"That evidence proves you stole money from the company," Elena stammered.

"The company belongs to me."

"It also proves you caused the death of Daniel's father."

Victoria’s face hardened.

Years ago, the company's founder had died when his car's brakes failed. Everyone believed it was a tragic accident. However, Elena had uncovered an invoice for tampering with the vehicle, along with several recordings of Victoria threatening the mechanic who did it.

The late husband's will stated that once his first grandchild was born, the company's shares would pass directly to the child. Victoria would lose control of everything.

"My husband discovered I was stealing," Victoria explained without a hint of remorse. "He was going to turn me in to the police. You are making the exact same mistake."

"Daniel will never let you kill his own child."

Victoria smiled coldly and pressed a button.

The hydraulic motor hummed to life. The platform began its slow descent, bringing the massive car closer and closer to Elena's body.

"Stop it!" Elena screamed. "My baby!"

The gap was closing with every passing second. Elena tried to roll to the side, but the ropes held her fast. The bumper was now so close she could see her own terrified reflection in the glossy black paint.

Suddenly, the side door of the garage swung open.

Rosa, the family’s elderly housekeeper, walked in carrying a laundry basket. Realizing what was happening, she dropped the basket and ran toward the lift.

"Miss Elena!"

"Rosa, get back! It’s a trap!"

The elderly woman dropped to her knees and slid under the vehicle. The tight space barely allowed her to move, but she managed to scramble over to Elena.

"Don't be afraid! I'm going to get you out!"

Rosa pulled a small pair of sewing scissors from her apron pocket and began desperately hacking away at the ropes. The car kept coming down.

Victoria watched the scene from the control panel, unbothered.

"Get out of there, Rosa. This has nothing to do with you."

"I’ve spent thirty years watching you destroy this family," Rosa retorted, her voice shaking but firm. "Enough is enough."

"You are a servant. Your duty is to obey."

"My duty is to not let you murder a mother and her child."

The bottom of the car was now only inches from Rosa's back. The old woman lay flat on her side, continuing to saw through the rope around Elena's wrists.

"As soon as I cut you loose, crawl toward that concrete pillar," Rosa whispered. "The platform can't reach you there."

"We won't both fit!"

"You go first."

At that exact moment, Daniel came running into the garage. Elena lifted her head as best as she could. Despite the terror, she felt a sudden rush of relief at the sight of him.

"Daniel, help me! Stop the machine!"

He looked at his wife, then at his mother, and finally at the car slowly crushing the two women.

Victoria pointed to the folder.

"Your wife plans to hand this over to the police. If she talks, we lose the company and the fortune. Besides, they will find out that you signed off on the wire transfers."

"You told me those were investments!" Daniel stammered, his face turning pale.

"No one will believe you. You will go to prison right along with me."

Elena realized then that her husband was implicated, even if he hadn't known the full extent of his mother’s crimes.

"Daniel, listen to me," Elena pleaded. "You can still tell the truth. We can protect our baby."

"If you ruin my mother, there won't be anything left to protect him with," Daniel murmured.

"Our baby doesn't need a fortune. He needs a father who isn't a murderer!"

Daniel lowered his eyes.

Victoria stepped forward and handed him a folding knife.

"Rosa is about to get her free. Stop her."

Daniel approached the platform. The housekeeper had just severed the final strand of rope when he knelt down and drove the knife deep into her shoulder.

Rosa shrieked in pain, dropping the scissors.

"No!" Elena screamed. "She was only trying to save me!"

Daniel grabbed the elderly woman by her clothes.

"Get away from my wife."

Bleeding and weak, Rosa threw herself between Daniel and Elena.

"If she were really your wife, you wouldn't be trying to kill her."

Daniel tried to shove her aside, but Rosa slammed his hand against the hard concrete. The knife flew out of his grip. With the very last ounce of her strength, she shoved Elena toward the edge of the platform.

"Now! Crawl!"

Elena dragged herself forward on her elbows, managing to squeeze her head out first, then her shoulders, and finally her pregnant belly. Daniel lunged to grab her ankle, but Rosa clung desperately to his arm.

Elena rolled past the concrete pillar.

She was safe.