Chapter 4 - The Visitor in Crimson
The guard escorted Mark down a long, dimly lit concrete corridor.
The loud clanging of heavy iron doors rang in his ears with every step.
Mark entered the visitation room and sat down behind the thick glass partition.
Evelyn Vance was already seated on the other side, wearing an elegant crimson dress.
Her manicured hands rested comfortably on the wooden counter.
She picked up the plastic intercom phone and held it to her ear.
Mark grabbed his phone with hands trembling in intense anger.
"Where is Lily, Evelyn?" Mark demanded, his voice trembling through the receiver.
Evelyn chuckled softly, her eyes glinting with cruel amusement.
"She is in very safe hands, Mark," Evelyn replied smoothly.
"She is currently settling into my estate under twenty-four-hour private guard," she added.
"You won't get away with this," Mark growled, pressing his face against the glass.
"I know what you did thirty years ago," Mark added, leaning closer.
"I know Clara wasn't your daughter."
Evelyn’s icy composure did not crack for even a single second.
She simply raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly.
"So you talked to Jax in the holding cell," Evelyn said calmly.
"That pathetic loser has been rotting in prison for years," she sneered.
"And you really think anyone will believe a convicted felon over me?" she asked.
"The police are corrupt, but the courts won't ignore the truth," Mark said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, Mark, you still don't understand how power works," Evelyn whispered into the receiver.
"I don't just own the police in this town," she said.
"I own the judge who is presiding over your trial tomorrow morning," she revealed.
Mark's heart dropped straight into his stomach.
"You framed me for Clara's poisoning," Mark whispered, horror spreading through his chest.
"Clara was getting too close to finding the original land deeds," Evelyn admitted freely.
"She had to be put to sleep before she ruined thirty years of work," Evelyn added without a shred of remorse.
"You poisoned your own adopted daughter?!" Mark shouted, slamming his fist against the partition.
The prison guard behind Mark immediately stepped forward, placing a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Sit down and remain calm, prisoner!" the guard commanded sharply.
Evelyn watched Mark's outburst with immense satisfaction.
"You have two choices, Mark," Evelyn said, her tone suddenly becoming sharp as steel.
"Sign over your parental rights to Lily permanently before tomorrow's hearing," she offered.
"Or you will spend the next twenty-five years in a maximum-security prison for murder," she threatened.
"I will never give you my daughter!" Mark roared into the phone.
Evelyn slowly hung up the receiver and stood up from her chair.
She adjusted her coat and looked down at Mark with cold contempt.
"Then prepare to lose everything tomorrow, Mark," Evelyn said through the glass.
May you like
She turned on her heel and walked out of the visitation room.
As Mark was forced back toward his cell, the guard secretly slipped a folded note into Mark's palm.
