CHAPTER 8 — THE MAN WHO WATCHED VICTOR
CHAPTER 8 — THE MAN WHO WATCHED VICTOR
The soldiers stood motionless in the corridor.
Serena stood among them as though she had always belonged there.
Victor couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Mrs. Hale."
The soldier had said it casually.
Naturally.
As if the title meant nothing.
As if Serena hadn't spent years pretending to be an outsider.
As if she hadn't stood beside Victor at dinners, charity events, board meetings, and family gatherings while secretly carrying the key to his entire empire.
Victor raised his weapon.
"You lied to me."
Serena looked at him.
"Yes."
"You manipulated me."
"Yes."
"You tried to take Ethan."
Her expression tightened.
"Yes."
"You knew about the Trust."
"Yes."
"And you knew my father was alive."
Serena nodded.
"Yes."
Victor's voice became colder.
"Then tell me why you're still breathing."
The soldiers immediately raised their weapons.
Serena lifted one hand.
"Lower them."
They obeyed.
Victor stared.
"Who are you?"
Serena walked toward him.
For the first time since Victor had known her, there was no fear in her eyes.
No hesitation.
No performance.
Only exhaustion.
"My real name is Serena Isabella Hale."
Victor frowned.
"Isabella?"
She nodded.
"My mother was Isabella."
Victor's eyes widened.
"The woman in the photograph."
"Yes."
"Then you're her daughter."
Serena looked away.
"And the second beneficiary."
Victor looked at the photograph still lying on the floor.
Isabella.
Pregnant.
Standing beside another woman.
He looked back at Serena.
"Who was the other woman?"
Serena's expression changed.
"Evelyn."
Victor froze.
"Evelyn?"
"Yes."
"Why was she with your mother?"
"Because Evelyn was the only person Isabella trusted."
Victor's mind raced.
"Then why did Evelyn marry me?"
Serena hesitated.
"Because she was ordered to."
Victor stared.
"By whom?"
"My father."
"Edward?"
Serena shook her head.
"Edward wasn't your father."
Victor felt the familiar chill return.
"Then who was?"
Serena looked directly at him.
"The man who has watched you your entire life."
A monitor behind Serena flickered on.
The screen displayed an old photograph.
A man sitting in a dark room.
Surrounded by monitors.
Each monitor showed Victor at different ages.
Victor as a child.
Victor at school.
Victor at university.
Victor at his wedding.
Victor holding newborn Ethan.
Victor entering the mansion.
Victor sleeping.
Victor stopped breathing.
"Who is that?"
Serena didn't answer.
The image zoomed closer.
The man's face remained partly hidden.
But Victor recognized the suit.
The posture.
The ring.
A black ring with a silver line through its center.
Victor had seen it before.
In his childhood.
On the hand of the man who used to stand outside his bedroom.
He whispered:
"Father."
Serena shook her head.
"No."
"Then who?"
"The Watcher."
Victor frowned.
"The Watcher?"
"That's what Isabella called him."
"Why?"
"Because he never touched the people he controlled."
"He only watched."
Victor stared at the screen.
"How long?"
Serena answered:
"Thirty-one years."
Victor's face hardened.
"Since I was born?"
"Before."
"Why?"
"Because you were the experiment."
Victor looked at Ethan.
"What experiment?"
Serena stepped closer.
"Control."
The soldiers remained silent.
Victor lowered his weapon slightly.
"Start from the beginning."
Serena nodded.
"Isabella discovered the network before you were born."
"What network?"
"The one beneath this mansion."
"The identity program."
"The Trust."
"The replacements."
"All of it."
Victor looked at the monitors.
"She tried to destroy it."
"Yes."
"Then what happened?"
"My father found her."
"Edward?"
"No."
"The Watcher."
Victor stared.
"He killed her?"
"No."
"He wanted something from her."
"What?"
"Her child."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"Which child?"
Serena looked at him.
"You."
Victor went still.
"He wanted you."
"Why?"
"Because Isabella had discovered something."
"What?"
"That you were genetically connected to the original Hale bloodline."
Victor frowned.
"I am a Hale."
"Not the Hale you think."
Serena pointed at the screen.
"The man who built this network wasn't Edward."
"Then who?"
"Isabella's father."
Victor stared.
"Your grandfather."
Serena nodded.
"He created the identity program."
"Why?"
"To protect his wealth."
"From whom?"
"Everyone."
Victor looked at the endless screens.
"Then why did he need children?"
"Because names can be replaced."
"Identities can be transferred."
"People can be erased."
"And power can survive its owner."
Victor understood.
"The children were replacements."
"Yes."
"And I was the successful one."
"Yes."
Victor shook his head.
"Successful for what?"
Serena looked toward Ethan.
"To become the next owner."
A monitor changed.
A new image appeared.
Victor at six years old.
He was sitting in a white chair.
A doctor stood behind him.
A younger version of the Watcher stood in front.
Victor watched himself on the screen.
The little boy looked terrified.
The Watcher leaned toward him.
"What's your name?"
The child answered:
"Victor."
"Again."
"Victor Hale."
"Who is your father?"
"Edward Hale."
"Who is your mother?"
The boy hesitated.
"My mother..."
He looked confused.
"I don't remember."
Victor's stomach turned.
The video continued.
The Watcher smiled.
"Good."
He turned toward the camera.
"Begin memory suppression."
Victor stepped backward.
"No."
Serena looked at him.
"You don't remember because they removed it."
"What?"
"Your memories."
"How?"
"Drugs."
"Hypnosis."
"Conditioning."
"Repetition."
Victor stared at the child version of himself.
The boy began crying.
The Watcher leaned closer.
"You don't have a mother."
"You don't have a brother."
"You don't have a sister."
"You don't remember this room."
"You were born Victor Hale."
"You belong to us."
Victor's breathing became shallow.
He recognized the voice.
It was the same voice from his nightmares.
The voice that had told him to forget.
He looked at Serena.
"That's him."
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
Serena hesitated.
Then she said:
"His name is Adrian Vale."
Victor stared.
"Vale."
"Yes."
"Why does that name sound familiar?"
"Because you used to call him Uncle Adrian."
Victor froze.
The room became silent.
"Uncle?"
"He was your father's closest friend."
Victor stared at the screen.
"He raised me."
"Yes."
"Then why did he erase me?"
"Because your father died."
Victor looked at her.
"What?"
Serena's voice softened.
"Your biological father died when you were three."
"Adrian took control."
"Your uncle became the head of the network."
"And he decided you were the perfect candidate."
"For what?"
"To inherit everything."
Victor stared.
"Then why make me forget?"
"Because the Trust required a guardian who could not challenge it."
Victor's face hardened.
"So I was controlled."
"Yes."
"For eighteen years."
"Yes."
"By Adrian."
"Yes."
Victor looked at the monitors.
"Where is he?"
Serena's eyes shifted toward the ceiling.
"He's watching."
Victor looked up.
The camera above them moved.
It followed him.
He stepped left.
The camera followed.
He stepped right.
Again.
Victor stared directly into the lens.
"Adrian."
The camera stopped.
Then—
the speaker crackled.
A man's voice answered.
"Hello, Victor."
Victor's blood ran cold.
The voice was calm.
Almost affectionate.
"I've been waiting for you to remember me."
Victor raised his weapon toward the speaker.
"Come out."
A soft laugh.
"Why?"
"So I can kill you."
"That's what I was afraid of."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"You murdered Evelyn."
"No."
"You manipulated me."
"Yes."
"You erased my memories."
"Yes."
"You created the Trust."
"Not me."
"Then who?"
A pause.
"You know the answer."
Victor looked at Serena.
She lowered her eyes.
Adrian continued:
"Your grandfather created the Trust."
"Your mother tried to destroy it."
"Your father tried to control it."
"Evelyn tried to expose it."
"And you..."
The voice softened.
"...you were chosen to survive it."
Victor clenched his jaw.
"What happened to Evelyn?"
Silence.
Then Adrian said:
"She betrayed you."
Victor froze.
"She knew what you were."
"What am I?"
"An heir."
Victor shook his head.
"No."
"You're more than that."
"What?"
"You're the original."
Victor's face went blank.
"Original what?"
Adrian answered:
"Subject Zero."
The room went silent.
Serena's expression changed.
Victor looked at her.
"Is that true?"
She didn't answer.
"Serena."
Finally, she nodded.
"Yes."
Victor stared.
"What is Subject Zero?"
"The first child."
"The one who was never supposed to survive."
"Why?"
"Because your grandfather designed the program around you."
Victor felt sick.
"Why me?"
"Because your DNA contains something they needed."
"What?"
Serena whispered:
"The original Hale marker."
Victor frowned.
"Meaning?"
"Every generation of the family has one person who carries it."
"The person who can legally activate the Trust."
Victor looked at Ethan.
"Then why him?"
"Because the marker passed to Ethan."
Victor's eyes widened.
"And me?"
"You were the bridge."
Victor shook his head.
"Then why does the Trust need both of us?"
Serena looked toward the screen.
"Because your grandfather was afraid of one thing."
"What?"
"That someone would try to destroy the family line."
Victor waited.
Serena continued:
"So he created a rule."
"What rule?"
"If the original heir dies before the next heir reaches eighteen..."
She paused.
"...the entire Trust becomes inaccessible."
Victor understood.
"That's why everyone wants me alive."
"Yes."
"Not just Ethan."
"Yes."
"Both of us."
Serena nodded.
"And that's why Evelyn died."
Victor looked at her.
"She tried to protect us."
"Yes."
"Who killed her?"
Serena hesitated.
Then:
"Adrian ordered the operation."
Victor's eyes hardened.
"Then why did you say he didn't kill her?"
"Because he didn't pull the trigger."
"Who did?"
Serena looked toward Elena.
Victor followed her gaze.
Elena stood completely still.
Victor's face changed.
"No."
Elena began crying.
"Victor..."
"Don't."
"I didn't want to."
"You were there."
"Yes."
"You killed her."
"No."
Elena shook her head.
"I was there when she died."
"Then what did you do?"
Elena's voice broke.
"I helped her escape."
Victor stared.
"Escape?"
"She wasn't supposed to die that night."
"Then why did she?"
"Because she chose to."
Victor shook his head.
"Why?"
"Because Adrian had Ethan."
Victor looked at his son.
"What?"
Elena continued.
"He had already taken him."
Victor's eyes widened.
"Ethan was six months old."
"Yes."
"He threatened to kill him."
"Yes."
"So Evelyn..."
"She surrendered."
Victor's eyes filled with tears.
"She traded herself for Ethan."
Elena nodded.
"She walked into that hospital knowing she wouldn't leave."
Victor looked down.
Ethan was staring at him.
"Daddy?"
Victor crouched.
"Yes?"
"Mommy was brave."
Victor swallowed.
"Yes."
"She told me you would find her."
Victor closed his eyes.
"She was right."
The speakers crackled again.
Adrian's voice returned.
"Enough."
Victor stood.
"Show yourself."
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"Because you still have one memory left."
Victor's stomach tightened.
"What memory?"
"The night Evelyn died."
Victor looked at the screen.
A new video appeared.
A hospital room.
Evelyn.
Victor.
And a third person.
Victor leaned closer.
The third person slowly stepped into view.
Victor's heart stopped.
It was Serena.
But younger.
Standing beside Evelyn's hospital bed.
Serena was holding a newborn baby.
Ethan.
Victor stared.
"What is this?"
Serena closed her eyes.
"The night Ethan was born."
Victor turned toward her.
"You told me he was born six months before."
"He was."
"No."
Victor pointed at the screen.
"That footage is from the night Evelyn died."
Serena said nothing.
Victor's voice rose.
"Why was Ethan there?"
Serena whispered:
"Because he wasn't supposed to be alive."
Victor froze.
"What?"
"Adrian ordered the doctors to let him die."
Victor's face went pale.
"Evelyn stopped them."
"How?"
"She threatened to expose the Trust."
"And Serena?"
"I helped her."
Victor stared.
"Then why did you betray her?"
Serena looked at him.
"Because I thought I was saving Ethan."
"What did you do?"
"I gave Adrian the location."
Victor's expression became cold.
"Of Evelyn."
Serena nodded.
"Yes."
The room fell silent.
Then Victor heard a soft voice.
"Daddy."
He looked down.
Ethan was holding something.
A photograph.
Victor took it.
It showed Evelyn holding newborn Ethan.
On the back was a handwritten message:
IF HE EVER ASKS WHO WATCHED US, TELL HIM IT WAS ME.
Victor stared.
"What does this mean?"
Serena looked at the photograph.
Her face changed.
"That's not Evelyn's handwriting."
Victor frowned.
"Then whose?"
Serena whispered:
"Adrian's."
Victor turned the photograph over.
A second line had been written underneath.
THE WATCHER IS NOT THE ENEMY.
Victor stared.
The speaker crackled.
Adrian spoke.
"Now you understand."
Victor looked up.
"Understand what?"
"That I wasn't watching you to destroy you."
"Then why?"
"To protect you."
Victor laughed bitterly.
"You erased my memories."
"To protect you."
"You controlled my life."
"To protect you."
"You killed Evelyn."
"No."
"Then who?"
Silence.
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me."
Adrian answered:
"Ask Serena."
Victor turned.
Serena's face had gone white.
Victor stared at her.
"What did you do?"
Serena couldn't answer.
"Serena."
She whispered:
"I wasn't the one who killed Evelyn."
"Then who?"
She looked at Ethan.
Then Victor.
Then the photograph.
"I know who did."
Victor waited.
Serena slowly raised her eyes.
"It was the woman you thought was your mother."
Victor froze.
"Elena?"
Serena shook her head.
"No."
"Then who?"
Serena whispered:
"Isabella."
Victor's face went blank.
"The woman in the photograph."
"She's alive."
Victor stopped breathing.
"Where?"
Serena pointed toward the camera.
"She's been watching you too."
Victor stared into the lens.
A final image appeared on the screen.
An elderly woman.
Gray hair.
Cold eyes.
Sitting in a wheelchair.
Victor had never seen her before.
But Ethan suddenly whispered:
"Daddy."
"What?"
Ethan pointed at the screen.
"That's the lady who visits me at night."
Victor's blood ran cold.
"What?"
Ethan nodded.
"She always tells me..."
He swallowed.
"...not to trust you."
Victor stared at the woman on the screen.
The woman smiled.
Then the screen went black.
A message appeared:
SUBJECT ZERO HAS REMEMBERED.
Then another:
BEGIN PHASE TWO.
The mansion lights went out.
May you like
And somewhere upstairs—
Ethan's bedroom door slowly opened by itself.
