Chapter 2 - THE QUEEN'S ARRIVALVictoria did not run.
That was what frightened everyone.
She walked.
Each step echoed against the marble like a countdown.
Her security team separated the crowd, creating a path toward Mia.
Eleanor watched her daughter approach.
The last time they had stood this close, Victoria had been twenty-two years old.
Angry.
Broken.
And determined to escape.
Eleanor had told her she would never survive without the Vance name.
Victoria had left anyway.
Twenty years later, she had returned with an empire of her own.
Victoria stopped inches from Eleanor.
“How long?”
Eleanor swallowed.
“What?”
“How long have you been hurting my sister?”
“I didn't—”
“Don't lie.”
Victoria's voice never rose.
That made it worse.
“You don't have the authority to question me in my own house.”
Victoria looked around.
At the terrified guests.
At the blood on the marble.
At the bat.
Then she looked back at Eleanor.
“This stopped being your house fourteen minutes ago.”
Eleanor's face tightened.
“What did you do?”
Victoria smiled without warmth.
“You'll find out.”
She turned away.
Then dropped beside Mia.
Everything about her changed.
Her hands became gentle.
Her voice softened.
“Mia.”
Mia's eyes opened weakly.
“Vic?”
“I'm here.”
“I thought she was going to kill my baby.”
Victoria's jaw tightened.
“No one is touching you again.”
Mia began to cry.
Victoria brushed her hair away.
“You're safe.”
Behind them, Eleanor stood motionless.
She had spent decades convincing herself that Victoria had become ruthless because of her.
Now she understood something far more dangerous.
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Victoria had become ruthless because she had learned exactly what Eleanor was capable of.
And tonight, she intended to use that knowledge against her.
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