Hannah and Ralph panicked at the sight of Heather standing. Their fear of her ran deep. Even when she lay incapacitated and dying, they had feared her; now, seeing her upright, their fear intensified. "No! It's impossible!" Hannah refused to believe her eyes. She had considered her plan flawless, her victory assured. She would not accept defeat.
"Chump, do you think you can fool me with that nonsense?" Hannah forced a smile. "You wish you could intimidate me so easily! You'd need far longer to return to the Riggs estate for reinforcements. You're bluffing! My people will overwhelm you at my command. I advise you to flee before I change my mind. I could let you go now."
"You're the one bluffing," Heather retorted icily. "Accept reality. Do you think you can so easily buy off my associates? I have friends in this business, too. You vastly underestimate me!"
She paused. "Besides, do you think you can replace me after a few dinners and meaningless conversations? Hannah Riggs, you're naive! Do you believe that's the extent of my capabilities? If that were true, I wouldn't be where I am, and the Riggs family wouldn't possess our wealth."
Hannah's eyes widened, convinced. Yet, something puzzled her. Heather hadn't seemed herself lately; her actions hadn't appeared genuine.
"Enjoy the show?" Heather breathed, placing a hand on the bed frame. With a tightening grip, the wood splintered.
Hannah and Ralph watched, their faces draining of color. Ralph felt hopeless. His mind had been troubled, restless; now, with Hannah's defeat, his last hope was gone. Without the Riggs family's support, he had nothing.
"Ants," Heather sneered, turning to Chump. "Lock them up and await my orders." She exited.
Chump swiftly bound the pair and threw them into a room, locking the door behind him. Instantly, the room plunged into darkness.
Hannah sat silently, motionless. It felt like a nightmare.
Ralph saw her pallor and understood. He'd felt the same moments before—the difference being that he’d failed, while Hannah had believed herself successful, only to fall into Heather’s trap.
They had been so close. Hannah wondered if forcing the poison down Heather's throat earlier would have changed things. "Annie..." Ralph, unable to bear her blank expression, whispered her nickname.
Hannah blinked, as if jolted back to reality. "Am I dreaming? Slap me! Wake me from this nightmare! How could I fail? I planned everything carefully. Chump—why isn't Chump dead?"
Ralph empathized with her anguish. The harder she struggled, the more his heart ached.
"Annie, I forgot how cunning Heather is. She manipulated me before, and now she’s done it to you. She faked the poisoning. I bet the poison didn't affect her—she merely played a part!"