Chapter 1 - THE FOOTSTEPS BEHIND HER “Take your hand off my son.”
Victor Blackwood’s voice was quiet.
That was what made it terrifying.
Serena Montigue froze in the middle of the marble foyer, one fist twisted into the front of baby Ethan’s shirt.
Three feet away, Lily Hart lay on the floor, one arm wrapped protectively around her stomach, fighting through the pain in her ribs.
Ethan whimpered.
His tiny left arm hung strangely against his body.
Victor stood at the far end of the foyer, still wearing the dark coat he had traveled in from New York.
He had returned two hours early.
No announcement.
No motorcade.
He had planned to surprise Serena before their engagement dinner.
Instead, he had walked into a nightmare.
Serena released Ethan immediately.
The baby stumbled sideways.
Lily crawled forward and caught him.
“Victor,” Serena whispered.
Her face transformed instantly.
Tears appeared.
Fear replaced anger.
“Thank God you're here. Lily lost control. She attacked me. I was trying to protect Ethan.”
Lily stared at her.
“That’s a lie.”
Victor didn't answer.
He looked at his son.
The boy's face was wet with tears.
A red mark circled his wrist.
One sock was missing.
When Victor reached for him, Ethan screamed.
Victor stopped.
Something inside him went cold.
He knew lies.
He had spent most of his life surrounded by them.
He knew what fear looked like.
He knew what guilt looked like.
And Serena was performing.
“Marco.”
His head of security appeared.
“Lock the gates. Call an ambulance. Call the police.”
Serena's tears vanished.
“The police?”
Victor lifted Ethan carefully.
“A child has been injured.”
He looked at everyone in the room.
“Nobody leaves.”
Lily tried to stand.
Pain forced her back down.
Victor saw the dark mark on her uniform.
“What happened to you?”
Serena answered quickly.
“She attacked me.”
Lily opened her hand.
A black button lay in her palm.
Attached beneath it was a tiny red light.
“I recorded everything,” she whispered.
Victor stared at the device.
May you like
Then he looked at Serena.
For the first time, she looked genuinely afraid.
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