Chapter 55: The fall of a monster

Jessica's pov

I sat on top of the bed completely frozen. Michael’s words haunted me like a ghost whispering in my ear: “I know you don’t have parents, Jess.”

The way he looked at me… and the way he held my arms too firmly…

I could feel bruises forming beneath my skin and what scared me the most wasn't the fact that he knew my secret, it was the realization that he enjoyed watching me panic. My chest felt tight and my breathing became shallow. I pressed a hand over my heart, trying to calm it, but my fingers trembled uncontrollably. I nearly died today…

My thoughts spiraled.

What if he didn’t believe my excuse? What if he was pretending to soften just so he can deal with me later? What if...

Before I could spiral further, I heard something outside. A low rumbling at first… then the unmistakable sound of engines, many engines, rolling in fast.

I stood up and moved toward the window,

And my blood ran cold.

A flood of cars, police vans, black SUVs, and paparazzi coming from everywhere, they swarmed the front gates. Police sirens screamed through the estate, lights flashing red and blue against the tall marble walls. Paparazzi threw themselves out of their vehicles, cameras flashing wildly as they sprinted toward the property.

“What’s going on?” I whispered, suddenly speechless.

Before I could think, the front gates burst open. Police officers rushed in, shouting commands, some blocking the paparazzi from entering while others stormed straight for the house.

Heavy, hurried footsteps filled the halls and doors slammed open, with officers barking orders. The atmosphere shifted from quiet tension to complete chaos in seconds.

My heart leapt into my throat.

They’re here for him… they finally came.

And yet fear struck me too, Would Michael think I betrayed him? Would he kill me if he got out?

I stepped out of the bedroom and hurried downstairs.

The entire ground floor was crawling with police officers in dark tactical gear. Some were combing the living room. Others tore through the kitchen. A few marched straight toward the hall that led to Michael’s forbidden study.

One of the officers spotted me.

“Ma’am, stay where you are,” he instructed, holding out his hand.

I lifted my trembling hands. “I...I live here. What’s happening?”

“We’re executing a warrant,” he said strictly. “Stay calm. No sudden movements.”

But before he could say more, a loud commotion erupted down the hall.

There was shouting. Boots THUDDING and Something metallic hitting the floor. I stepped back instinctively as several officers rushed past me. Then I heard it,

the secret sliding noise,it was the hidden mechanism of Michael’s study door. My stomach twisted.

Michael stepped out of the open wall panel, eyes wide in unexpected shock, he looked like a predator caught mid-attack. His gaze darted from officer to officer, then landed on me standing at the stairs, he just froze in place. Soon after his personal guard appeared behind him, face pale, his hand drifting toward his weapon but before he could even think to draw it, three officers tackled him violently against the wall.

"HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!”

Michael lifted his hands slowly, his jaw clenched so tightly his veins bulged in his neck. His eyes were burning with fury and he looked betrayed, confused, and insulted all at once. Two officers grabbed his arms and twisted them behind his back.

“You’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent...” Michael’s eyes snapped to me, and a cold shiver shot down my spine.

His voice was low, dangerous.

“Jess… what did you do?”

I stepped back, shaking my head. “I didn’t... I didn’t do anything...”

He narrowed his eyes as they shoved him toward the entrance. “You’ll regret this,” he muttered, loud enough for me to hear.

His personal guard was dragged out next, yelling and cursing and the other guards were cornered in the foyer, Some tried to lie, others tried to run but the officers were everywhere.

Then a female officer approached me.

“Ma’am, we’re going to need your full cooperation. You will come with us for questioning along with all house staff.”

“I’ll cooperate,” I whispered. “I’ll tell you everything.”

I didn’t even realize tears were streaming down my cheeks until she gently guided me toward the police van. At the Police Station, they put me in a clean, quiet interrogation room. The cold air conditioner hummed loudly, and the metal chair felt icy against my skin, my heart was still racing.

A detective walked in, a tall man in his late 40s, tough face, warm eyes.

He set a recorder on the table and sat down.

“I’m Detective Rowan. I’ll be speaking with you today. You’re not under arrest, you’re a witness. But we need details.”

I nodded shakily.

“Jessica,” he said gently, “anything you share today will help in building a case against Michael Halloran. We have reason to believe you have been in danger.”

A lump formed in my throat.

“I have,” I whispered.

“Start from the beginning,” he said. “Anything helps.”

I inhaled deeply.

“There’s… there’s a well in the woods,” I began. “Covered with a wooden board. When we opened it, it smelled like… like rotten flesh. Inside were human remains. My friend Nick and I found it.”

Rowan exchanged a glance with the second detective who’d just walked in.

“Human remains?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“And you said you found something else?”

“Yes. A door. Buried under soil. It leads somewhere underground but It was locked. We didn’t get to open it.” Detective Rowan leaned forward.

“Who knew about this door?”

“One,” I said.

“Excuse me?” Rowan asked.

“That’s his name,” I explained. “Michael’s head guard. He always checks that area. I’m sure he knows what’s under there.”

The detectives scribbled notes frantically.

“Jessica,” Rowan continued, “did you ever witness Michael harming anyone? Any violence? Anything at all?”

My voice trembled.

“I heard screams... from behind the wall in his study. There’s a secret door there too, that’s where he came out when the police arrived.”

Rowan let out a breath.

“That confirms what we suspected.”

I continued, tears spilling freely now.

“He… he scares me. You don’t understand. He gets mad for the smallest things. This morning he confronted me, told me he knows I’m an orphan, and he grabbed me so tightly I thought he was going to snap.”

Rowan softened.

“You’re safe now. He can’t reach you.”

“I hope so…” I whispered.

He paused, then asked quietly: “Is there anything else? Anything we should know?”

I hesitated only a moment.

“He tracks me,” I whispered. “He bugs things, He watches from afar. He doesn’t even let me leave the house without permission and… when he gets upset, he disappears into that secret place, I don’t know what he does in there, but people go missing.”

The room fell silent.

Rowan clicked off the recorder.

“Jessica, thank you. This is more than enough. You may have saved many lives.”

My shoulders sagged in relief. A female officer walked me out of the room and handed me a warm cup of tea.