Chapter 3
The doctor confirmed Ethan’s arm was not broken.
But it had been badly twisted.
The ligaments were strained.
There were also older bruises.
Bruises Victor had never noticed.
That fact nearly destroyed him.
“He’ll recover,” Dr. Warren said quietly. “But given the pattern of injuries, I’m required to document everything.”
“Do it.”
Victor’s voice was rough.
“Photographs. Reports. Every mark.”
Dr. Warren nodded.
Victor sat beside Ethan while Lily held him.
The little boy was exhausted from crying.
Eventually, he fell asleep against Lily’s shoulder.
Victor watched them together.
For fourteen months, Lily had been there almost every day.
She knew which song calmed Ethan.
Which blanket he wanted at bedtime.
Which stuffed animal he reached for when frightened.
Victor had hired her after Claire died because he could barely function.
He had thought money could solve the practical problems.
A nanny.
A chef.
A larger security team.
A carefully organized schedule.
But money had not protected Ethan.
Lily had.
And Victor had nearly allowed Serena to destroy her.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Lily looked up.
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“Yes, I do.”
She said nothing.
“I should have listened to you.”
Lily lowered her eyes.
“I was scared.”
“Of Serena?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Lily hesitated.
Victor waited.
Finally she said, “Because she knew things about me.”
Victor frowned.
“What things?”
“My brother has a record.”
Victor said nothing.
“He got arrested when he was nineteen. Nothing violent. He stole a car with some friends. Serena found out.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
Lily continued.
“She told me your company did background checks on everyone. She said one phone call from her could make people believe I hid information from you.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“You didn’t hide anything. I knew about your brother before you were hired.”
Lily stared at him.
“You did?”
“Of course.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“She told me you didn’t.”
Victor leaned back.
The manipulation was deeper than he realized.
Serena had isolated Lily.
Terrified Rosa.
Turned off security cameras.
Hurt Ethan.
Entered Claire’s room.
And now the police were searching her belongings.
Victor’s phone rang again.
Detective Marcus Hayes.
“Mr. Blackwood, we’re at your residence.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
“We’ve detained Ms. Vale.”
Victor looked toward Ethan.
“Good.”
“There are some things we need to discuss privately.”
“What things?”
Hayes paused.
“The medication found in Serena’s room may be significant.”
“Significant how?”
“We need laboratory confirmation before making conclusions.”
Victor hated the careful language.
“Tell me what you know.”
“The tablets appear similar to a cardiac medication.”
Victor stopped breathing.
“What?”
“A type that can alter heart rhythm if misused.”
Victor stood.
Lily looked at him.
“What happened?”
He couldn’t answer.
His memories turned violent inside his head.
Claire collapsing beside the kitchen island.
Claire gasping.
The ambulance.
Doctors trying to restart her heart.
Serena arriving at the hospital and wrapping her arms around Victor while he cried.
Serena speaking at Claire’s funeral.
Serena holding Ethan, then only two months old, and whispering that she would always be there for them.
Victor felt the room tilt.
“Mr. Blackwood?” Hayes said.
“I’m coming.”
He ended the call.
Lily stood.
“You look pale.”
Victor took a breath.
“They found medication in Serena’s room.”
“What kind?”
“Something related to the heart.”
Lily’s face changed.
Victor nodded slowly.
“Claire died from cardiac arrest.”
Neither of them spoke.
A nurse entered.
“We’ll need another thirty minutes before discharge.”
Victor looked at Lily.
“Stay with Ethan.”
“Of course.”
Victor bent down and kissed his son’s forehead.
The little boy stirred.
“Da…”
Victor froze.
Ethan had only recently begun saying the word.
Victor touched his cheek.
“I’m here.”
Ethan’s fingers closed around his index finger.
Victor nearly broke.
“I’m here now.”
Twenty-five minutes later, Victor entered his mansion again.
Police officers filled the hallway.
Serena sat on a chair beside the staircase.
Her arms were crossed.
She looked furious instead of frightened.
Detective Hayes met Victor near the study.
“We should talk.”
Victor’s eyes remained on Serena.
“Has she been arrested?”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because being a terrible person isn’t enough. We need evidence tying her to specific crimes.”
“You have the recording.”
“For today’s assault, yes.”
“And the bruises.”
“We’re collecting documentation.”
Victor looked at him.
“What about Claire?”
“That’s more complicated.”
They entered the study.
Daniel was already inside.
On Victor’s desk sat Claire’s missing journal.
Beside it was a plastic evidence bag containing a small amber bottle.
Victor stared at the journal.
He had searched everywhere for it.
His hands shook as he reached for it.
Hayes stopped him.
“We’ve already photographed and processed it. You can read it, but use gloves.”
Victor put them on.
The journal was bound in blue leather.
Claire’s initials were embossed on the front.
C.E.B.
Victor opened to the final pages.
Claire’s handwriting brought pain instantly.
He read silently.
March 12.
Serena came over again today. She brought tea and insisted I rest. I’ve been so tired lately.
Victor turned the page.
March 16.
Strange dizziness again after lunch. Serena says I’m pushing myself too hard after having Ethan.
Another page.
March 21.
I found one of Serena’s earrings near Victor’s office. Probably nothing, but she’s been here almost every day lately.
Victor’s hand tightened.
March 24.
I asked Serena whether she had feelings for Victor.
She laughed.
Then she got angry.
She said I was paranoid.
I hate that I even asked.
March 27.
I feel wrong.
Not sick exactly.
Something feels wrong.
Victor stopped reading.
His vision blurred.
Hayes waited quietly.
Victor turned another page.
March 29.
Serena made tea again.
I pretended to drink it.
She watched me the entire time.
After she left the room, I poured it into the sink.
I felt fine that evening.
Victor’s heart slammed against his ribs.
Another page.
March 30.
I think someone may be putting something in my drinks.
Tomorrow I’m calling Dr. Warren privately.
Victor looked up.
“When did Claire die?”
Hayes already knew.
“March thirty-first.”
Victor stared at the final entry.
There were only four words.
March 31.
Serena is here again.
Victor closed the journal.
He could barely breathe.
Hayes spoke gently.
“We need to test the medication.”
Victor pointed toward the bottle.
“Where exactly did you find it?”
Daniel answered.
“Inside a false bottom in one of Serena’s jewelry boxes.”
“Anything else?”
Daniel hesitated.
Victor looked at him.
“What?”
“We found a second phone.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
Daniel placed another evidence bag on the desk.
Inside was a cheap prepaid phone.
Hayes said, “There are messages on it.”
“To who?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Victor looked through the study window at Serena.
She was staring directly at him.
Then she smiled.
Victor felt ice move through his veins.
Hayes continued.
“One message was sent two days before Claire died.”
Victor turned.
“What did it say?”
Hayes opened a photograph on his tablet.
Victor read the message.
Tomorrow should solve everything.
His jaw tightened.
“Who received it?”
“The number is no longer active.”
Another message appeared beneath it.
This one was the reply.
Make sure the dose is right this time.
Victor stopped breathing.
He looked at Hayes.
“You think Serena killed my wife.”
“I think we have enough questions to reopen the investigation.”
Victor looked back through the glass.
Serena was still smiling.
Then one of the officers approached her.
The smile disappeared.
The officer placed handcuffs around her wrists.
Victor watched without moving.
But as police led Serena toward the front door, she suddenly turned.
“Victor!”
He stepped into the hallway.
She laughed.
“You really think Claire was innocent?”
Victor stared at her.
Serena’s smile returned.
“She was hiding things from you too.”
The officers pulled her forward.
Victor followed.
“What things?”
Serena looked over her shoulder.
“Ask Lily.”
Everyone froze.
Victor slowly turned toward the empty doorway where Lily should have been.
His phone rang.
It was Lily.
He answered.
“Lily?”
May you like
Her terrified voice came through the phone.
“Victor, someone followed us from the hospital.”
