Chapter 13 - Victor Comes Home Again
Victor ran upstairs with Daniel behind him.
He saw Mercer entering the service passage.
Daniel tackled him before he reached the stairs.
Victor continued toward Serena’s dressing room.
Lily stood beside the armchair.
Oliver was crying.
Serena held the knife in one hand.
The memory card was in the other.
Victor stopped.
“Put it down.”
Serena laughed nervously.
“You always arrive at dramatic moments.”
“Stay away from my son.”
“That sounds familiar.”
Victor’s eyes moved toward Lily.
A fresh red mark covered her cheek.
His voice became colder.
“You hit her again.”
Serena looked almost amused.
“That’s what bothers you?”
“Everything you’ve done bothers me.”
“What about what your family did?”
Victor remained still.
“I know about the trial.”
“No.”
Serena shook her head.
“You know the version Claire discovered.”
She held up the memory card.
“Your father created the original compound.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“My father died when I was sixteen.”
“And apparently took a lot of secrets with him.”
Victor took one step forward.
Serena raised the knife.
“Stop.”
He stopped.
“What do you want?”
“Freedom.”
“You assaulted Lily.”
“She attacked me.”
“You drugged Oliver.”
“To create symptoms.”
“You attempted to frame Lily.”
Serena said nothing.
“You were there when Claire died.”
Serena’s face hardened.
Victor continued.
“You’re not walking out.”
Serena’s eyes filled with rage.
“You think you’re innocent?”
“I never said that.”
Victor looked toward the memory card.
“If my family hurt people, the truth comes out.”
Serena stared at him.
“Even if you lose everything?”
“Yes.”
That answer surprised her.
Mercer shouted from the hallway.
“Serena!”
Daniel had him pinned against the wall.
“Don’t give him the card!”
Serena glanced toward the door.
Victor moved.
He grabbed her wrist.
The knife fell.
Lily immediately swept Oliver into her arms.
Serena fought wildly.
“You don’t understand!”
Victor restrained her.
“What don’t I understand?”
Tears appeared in Serena’s eyes.
“Elena was pregnant.”
Victor froze.
Serena looked toward Mercer.
“Tell him.”
Mercer stopped struggling.
His face collapsed.
“My daughter was pregnant during the trial.”
Victor stared.
“That should have disqualified her.”
“It did.”
“Then why was she enrolled?”
Mercer looked ashamed.
“Because someone changed her medical records.”
Victor whispered.
“Who?”
Mercer looked toward Serena.
Serena laughed bitterly.
“That’s the part Claire never solved.”
Then Mercer answered.
“Richard.”
Victor’s uncle.
Again.
Victor closed his eyes.
May you like
The deeper he dug, the darker his family history became.
But this time, Victor was done protecting the Blackwood name.
