Chapter 13 — Victoria’s Final Betrayal
Chapter 13 — Victoria’s Final Betrayal
Victoria was gone.
That was the first thing I noticed.
The second was the empty chair where she had been sitting.
The third was the open door.
My blood went cold.
“Mason.”
He turned.
“What?”
“Where's Victoria?”
He looked toward the hallway.
“She was here.”
“When?”
“Five minutes ago.”
I stared at the open door.
Five minutes.
Long enough.
Too long.
My mother was still crying.
Jonathan stood beside the archive table.
The book was gone.
Leo was gone.
And now Victoria was gone.
Everything suddenly felt connected.
I turned toward her.
“Mom.”
She looked up.
“Where would Victoria go?”
My mother's face changed.
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“Mom.”
She wiped her tears.
“Victoria wouldn't betray us.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that right before someone betrays us.”
Mason drew his weapon.
“I'll find her.”
“No.”
I grabbed his arm.
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“Because if Victoria left, she wanted us to follow.”
Mason looked at me.
“And if it's a trap?”
I tightened my grip on Leo's red car.
“Then we spring it on our terms.”
We found Victoria's coat near the service elevator.
Inside the pocket was a folded photograph.
I opened it.
A little girl.
Dark hair.
Eight years old.
My heart stopped.
“Lily.”
On the back was a single sentence.
She is alive.
Then another:
But she isn't where you think.
Mason looked over my shoulder.
“Could be bait.”
“It is.”
“Then why follow it?”
“Because she's my daughter.”
He didn't argue.
My mother stepped forward.
“Sarah, you can't.”
I turned.
“You lied to me about her.”
Her face collapsed.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“You always say that.”
“I know.”
“Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“Who does?”
My mother hesitated.
“Victoria.”
I stared at the photograph.
Then I understood.
Victoria hadn't disappeared because she wanted to betray us.
She had disappeared because she had taken Lily.
Or someone had made her.
Either way—
I was going after them.
The elevator descended beneath the courthouse.
The numbers stopped at B7.
There was no B7 on the building's official plans.
Jonathan looked at the panel.
“This wasn't here before.”
“Apparently it was.”
The doors opened.
A corridor stretched ahead.
Red emergency lights.
No cameras.
No guards.
Too quiet.
Mason stepped forward.
I followed.
At the end was a metal door.
A keypad.
Jonathan entered a code.
Nothing happened.
I looked at him.
“What code?”
He shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Then the keypad lit up.
A child's voice came through the speaker.
“Mommy?”
I froze.
“Lily?”
“Yes.”
My hands began shaking.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you?”
“Behind the door.”
I ran toward it.
Mason grabbed me.
“Wait.”
“She's there.”
“We don't know what's behind it.”
I stared at the keypad.
“What do you want me to do?”
The little girl's voice returned.
“Put your hand there.”
I looked at the scanner.
I placed my palm against it.
The door unlocked.
Mason pushed it open.
And there she was.
A little girl sat on the floor.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
A faded yellow dress.
She looked at me.
I looked at her.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then she whispered:
“Mommy?”
My heart shattered.
I fell to my knees.
“Lily.”
She ran into my arms.
I caught her.
She smelled like soap and children's shampoo.
Real.
Warm.
Alive.
I held her so tightly she laughed.
“You came.”
“I always would.”
“You took too long.”
I began crying.
“I know.”
She touched my face.
“Don't cry.”
“I can't help it.”
She smiled.
“Leo said you would.”
I froze.
“Leo knows you're here?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
Lily pointed behind her.
“He was here.”
My heart stopped.
“When?”
“Before you came.”
“Where did he go?”
“Grandpa took him.”
“Which Grandpa?”
She frowned.
“The bad one.”
“Victor?”
She nodded.
My arms tightened around her.
“Did Victoria bring you here?”
“Yes.”
“Where is she?”
Lily looked toward the door.
“She went to get the key.”
“What key?”
“The one Mommy has.”
I frowned.
“What key?”
Lily pointed at my necklace.
“The silver one.”
I touched the pendant.
It was shaped like a tiny key.
My grandmother had given it to me when I was a child.
I had never understood why.
Jonathan suddenly spoke.
“That's not a necklace.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“It's a key.”
“To what?”
“The original trust.”
My stomach dropped.
Lily looked at him.
“He knows.”
“Who?”
“Uncle Victor.”
Silence.
Then the lights went out.
Mason raised his weapon.
“Everyone down.”
A door slammed somewhere behind us.
Then footsteps.
Fast.
Approaching.
I pulled Lily against me.
Mason moved between us and the hallway.
Jonathan whispered:
“Sarah.”
“What?”
“Whatever happens, don't give him the necklace.”
“Why?”
“Because the trust doesn't contain money.”
I stared at him.
“Then what does it contain?”
“The identities.”
“Whose identities?”
“Everyone.”
The hallway lights returned.
Victoria stood at the far end.
She was holding a gun.
Pointed at us.
My heart sank.
“Victoria?”
She looked devastated.
“Sarah.”
“Put the gun down.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because he has my daughter.”
Lily stepped forward.
“Mommy?”
Victoria's face broke.
“Lily, stay behind Sarah.”
I stared at her.
“Your daughter?”
She nodded.
“Emily.”
The eight-year-old girl from the hospital.
I remembered.
The nurse.
The red car.
The warnings.
Victoria's daughter had been taken by Edmund.
And now—
Victoria was being forced to choose.
“Where is Emily?”
“Victor has her.”
My stomach tightened.
“Where is Leo?”
“Victor has him too.”
“Why did you bring Lily here?”
“Because he ordered me to.”
I felt betrayed.
“You used my daughter.”
“I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
Victoria flinched.
“I know.”
She lowered the gun slightly.
“I tried to protect Lily.”
“How?”
“I hid her for eight years.”
“Where?”
“Here.”
I stared.
“She was in this building?”
“Yes.”
“All this time?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because Victor would have killed her.”
“And now?”
Victoria looked toward the darkness.
“He knows.”
A voice came through the speakers.
“Very good, Victoria.”
Everyone froze.
Victor.
“You finally brought them together.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Please.”
Victor laughed.
“You've always been weak.”
I shouted:
“Where is my son?”
“Safe.”
“Bring him here.”
“No.”
“Then I'll come to you.”
“You don't know where I am.”
“I'll find you.”
“You already did.”
A door opened behind us.
I turned.
A screen descended from the ceiling.
Victor appeared.
Not a recording.
Live.
He was sitting in a room filled with files.
And beside him—
Leo.
My son was sitting calmly.
He looked at the camera.
“Mommy!”
I ran toward the screen.
“Leo!”
Victor placed one hand on his shoulder.
“Don't touch him.”
I stopped.
“If you hurt him—”
“I won't.”
“What do you want?”
“The key.”
I touched my necklace.
“You mean this?”
“Yes.”
“What does it open?”
“The original trust.”
“Why do you need me?”
“Because only you can activate it.”
“Then why did you take Leo?”
Victor smiled.
“Because you would come.”
I felt rage rise through me.
“You're insane.”
“No.”
He looked at Leo.
“I'm practical.”
“Let him go.”
“Give me the key.”
“No.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“Then someone dies.”
The screen changed.
Another camera angle.
Emily.
She was sitting in a chair.
Crying.
Victoria dropped to her knees.
“No.”
Victor's voice returned.
“Two children.”
He paused.
“One key.”
I looked at Victoria.
She was shaking.
“You see the problem.”
I understood.
This was the choice.
Victor wanted one of us to betray the other.
I stepped forward.
“Victoria.”
She looked at me.
“Don't.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I can't lose Emily.”
“I know.”
“I can't.”
“I know.”
She looked at my necklace.
Then at the screen.
Then at Lily.
Her hands tightened around the gun.
I saw the decision happen in her eyes.
She raised the weapon.
Not toward me.
Toward Jonathan.
My father froze.
“Victoria.”
“You knew.”
He stared.
“You knew where Emily was.”
Jonathan's face changed.
“What?”
“You knew Victor had her.”
“I didn't.”
“You lied.”
“No.”
“You let me believe she was dead.”
Jonathan shook his head.
“I thought she was.”
Victoria fired.
The bullet struck Jonathan in the shoulder.
My mother screamed.
Mason tackled Victoria to the floor.
The gun skidded away.
I rushed toward my father.
Blood soaked his shirt.
“Dad!”
He looked at me.
“I’m okay.”
“You're bleeding.”
“I've had worse.”
Victoria was crying.
“I didn't want to shoot him.”
Mason held her down.
“You almost killed him.”
“I know.”
Victor laughed through the speaker.
“Excellent.”
I looked at the screen.
“You wanted this.”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
“Because now you understand what betrayal feels like.”
I stared at him.
“You think I'm going to give you the key?”
“No.”
His smile returned.
“I think you're going to give it to me willingly.”
“Why?”
“Because you haven't seen the last room.”
The screen changed.
A door.
A metal door.
And behind it—
hundreds of children's names.
Then another image.
A newborn baby.
A hospital bracelet.
SARAH REED — FEMALE — 3 DAYS OLD.
My blood froze.
“What is that?”
Victor smiled.
“Your birth record.”
I stared.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“My birth certificate says—”
“Your birth certificate is fake.”
My mother began sobbing.
I turned.
“Mom?”
She couldn't look at me.
Victor continued.
“You weren't born Sarah Reed.”
My entire body went numb.
“You were born Sarah Vance.”
Silence.
I looked at Jonathan.
He closed his eyes.
I looked at my mother.
She was crying.
“Tell me he's lying.”
She whispered:
“He isn't.”
My knees weakened.
“You're saying I'm a Vance?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor needed an heir.”
I couldn't breathe.
“He took me?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
My mother looked at Jonathan.
“Your father stole you.”
I turned.
“Dad?”
Jonathan's eyes filled with tears.
“I rescued you.”
“You kidnapped me?”
“No.”
“You changed my identity.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor was going to use you.”
“For what?”
Jonathan whispered:
“To create the next generation.”
My stomach turned.
I looked at Leo.
My son.
The bloodline.
The trust.
Everything.
Victor's voice came through the speaker.
“Now you understand.”
I stared at him.
“You didn't create the Vance bloodline.”
“No.”
“You created me.”
“Yes.”
“You created Nathan.”
“Yes.”
“You created Leo.”
Victor smiled.
“Not yet.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Leo was the first natural success.”
“Success at what?”
“Compatibility.”
I felt sick.
“You're talking about my son like he's an experiment.”
“He is.”
I shook my head.
“He's a child.”
“He is an heir.”
“He's my son.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“And that is the one variable I failed to account for.”
“What?”
“You love him.”
I stared.
“Yes.”
“That makes you dangerous.”
“No.”
I stepped closer to the screen.
“It makes me unstoppable.”
Victor smiled.
“Then come prove it.”
The screen went black.
Victoria remained on the floor.
I looked at her.
“You betrayed us.”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
“But you saved Lily.”
“Yes.”
“You shot my father.”
“Yes.”
“You helped Victor.”
She lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
I knelt beside her.
“Where is the key?”
She looked at my necklace.
“Don't give it to him.”
“What?”
“I was ordered to make you believe I betrayed you.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Victor wanted you angry.”
“Why?”
“Because anger makes people predictable.”
I looked toward the screen.
“Then why did you shoot Dad?”
“Because I needed him to trust me.”
I frowned.
“What?”
Victoria whispered:
“Your father isn't the traitor.”
I froze.
“Then who is?”
She looked at Nathan.
My heart stopped.
Nathan stood at the doorway.
His face was expressionless.
I stared at him.
“No.”
Victoria nodded.
“He has been working for Victor.”
Nathan looked at me.
“Sarah.”
I stepped backward.
“You?”
He didn't answer.
“Tell me she's lying.”
Silence.
“Tell me.”
Nathan finally spoke.
“I didn't want you to find out like this.”
My heart broke.
“You took Leo.”
“No.”
“You knew Victor.”
“Yes.”
“You helped him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Nathan looked at me.
“Because he has something you don't.”
“What?”
“Your brother.”
I froze.
“Daniel?”
Nathan nodded.
“He's alive.”
I stared at him.
“Where?”
“Working with Victor.”
The room spun.
Everyone had betrayed everyone.
My father.
My mother.
Victoria.
Nathan.
And somehow—
I was still standing.
I looked at Leo's empty chair on the screen.
Then at the necklace in my hand.
Then at Nathan.
“You're not taking my son.”
Nathan's eyes filled with tears.
“I never wanted to.”
“But you helped them.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says that.”
Nathan took one step toward me.
“I love you.”
“No.”
He stopped.
“You don't get to say that anymore.”
“Sarah—”
“You made your choice.”
He lowered his head.
“Yes.”
I turned toward Mason.
“Get him out.”
Nathan didn't resist.
Mason restrained him.
As they passed, Nathan whispered:
“Sarah.”
I didn't look at him.
“He's going to the hospital.”
I froze.
“Who?”
“Victor.”
Nathan's voice broke.
“He's taking Leo there.”
I turned.
“Why?”
“Because that's where the first child was created.”
My blood ran cold.
“The laboratory.”
He nodded.
“And he's going to activate the trust.”
“How?”
Nathan looked at the necklace.
“With your blood.”
Then the lights flickered.
A final message appeared on the screen.
MIDNIGHT.
BRIAR GLEN MATERNITY HOSPITAL.
COME ALONE.
Below it appeared one final sentence.
BRING THE KEY, SARAH.
I looked at Victoria.
Then my mother.
Then my wounded father.
And finally at the empty space where my son should have been.
I wiped the tears from my face.
“No more secrets.”
I picked up the necklace.
“No more bargains.”
I looked toward the hospital.
“And no more running.”
Mason stepped beside me.
“You're not going alone.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Sarah—”
“I said no more running.”
I closed my hand around the key.
“But this time…”
I looked at everyone who had lied to me.
“…we're not going to the hospital to rescue Leo.”
Mason frowned.
“Then why?”
I looked toward the darkened screen.
“Because we're going to end the Vance family.”
Behind us, Victoria began to cry.
Jonathan struggled to stand.
My mother whispered my name.
And somewhere beneath Briar Glen, Victor Vance was preparing the final room.
He thought he had finally forced me into a corner.
He thought he had Leo.
He thought he had the key.
He thought he knew exactly who I was.
But he had made one final mistake.
He had taught me everything he knew about betrayal.
May you like
And now—
I was going to teach him what a mother was willing to do when someone tried to take her child for the last time.
