CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 12
THE FINAL TRAP
The name on the screen remained frozen.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Because sometimes the truth was not loud.
Sometimes it arrived quietly.
A single name.
A single revelation.
A single moment that changed everything.
Victor Blackwood stared at the screen.
The person responsible for the destruction of his family.
The person who had hidden behind loyalty.
Behind friendship.
Behind years of trust.
Was someone he had never imagined.
Marcus looked at the screen.
Then at Victor.
"Boss..."
Victor didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the name.
Because deep down, he had always known something was wrong.
The betrayals.
The leaks.
The attacks.
They were too precise.
Too personal.
Someone wasn't just attacking his empire.
Someone understood it.
Someone understood him.
And that was only possible if they had been close.
Very close.
Lily watched Victor carefully.
She knew that expression.
The same expression he had when he discovered Ethan was missing.
The same expression he had when he saw Serena hurt his son.
Not anger.
Something deeper.
Pain.
"Victor."
He finally looked at her.
For a moment, the powerful mafia boss disappeared.
He was just a man who had been betrayed again.
"Everyone I trusted..."
His voice was quiet.
"They were never really with me."
Lily stepped closer.
"Not everyone."
Victor looked at her.
She held his gaze.
"You trusted the wrong people."
A pause.
"But you found the right ones."
His eyes softened slightly.
Because she was right.
Before they could continue, the security system suddenly activated.
A warning flashed across every screen.
UNKNOWN ACCESS DETECTED.
Marcus immediately grabbed his weapon.
"Someone entered the mansion."
Victor's expression changed.
"Impossible."
The Blackwood mansion had more security than most government buildings.
Nobody entered without permission.
Nobody.
Then the main screen turned on.
And Serena appeared.
Alive.
Calm.
Smiling.
"Hello, Victor."
The room went silent.
Victor stepped forward.
"You."
Serena smiled.
"Did you enjoy discovering your family's secrets?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Where is Ethan?"
Serena tilted her head.
"Always the father first."
A pause.
"That's what makes you predictable."
Victor's jaw tightened.
"Tell me where my son is."
Serena looked at the camera.
"I want to make a deal."
Everyone in the room became tense.
Victor laughed quietly.
A dangerous sound.
"You think you are in a position to negotiate?"
Serena smiled.
"Yes."
Then the screen changed.
The image showed Ethan.
Alive.
Sitting in a dark room.
And beside him...
A timer.
Victor froze.
Lily covered her mouth.
"No..."
Serena's voice continued.
"Three hours."
The timer started counting down.
"After that, everything changes."
The entire Blackwood organization moved instantly.
Teams searched every possible location.
Signals were traced.
Cameras were hacked.
Every resource Victor owned was activated.
But Serena had prepared carefully.
Too carefully.
She had not hidden Ethan.
She had hidden the truth.
Every lead was false.
Every location was a trap.
"She's playing with us."
Marcus said.
Victor stared at the screens.
"No."
Marcus looked at him.
"Boss?"
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"She wants us to think she is controlling everything."
A pause.
"But Serena has one weakness."
"What?"
Victor looked at Lily.
"She wants to be chosen."
Lily understood immediately.
Serena had never wanted money alone.
She wanted Victor's attention.
His love.
His approval.
Everything Isabella had.
Everything Lily now had.
"She wants you to go alone."
Victor nodded.
"Exactly."
Lily stepped forward.
"Then she expects you to."
Victor looked at her.
"Yes."
"And you're going to."
A pause.
"Yes."
Lily shook her head.
"No."
Victor frowned.
"Lily."
"You can't."
"I have to."
She moved closer.
"That's what she wants."
Silence.
Because Lily was right.
Serena knew Victor.
She knew he would sacrifice himself for Ethan.
She knew he would walk into a trap.
Two hours later.
Victor prepared to leave.
Marcus stood beside him.
"Boss, this is suicide."
Victor adjusted his jacket.
"No."
A pause.
"It's fatherhood."
Marcus looked away.
Because he understood.
Everyone in the organization understood.
This was not the mafia boss going into battle.
This was a father going to save his child.
But when Victor reached the car...
Lily was already there.
Waiting.
He stopped.
"What are you doing?"
She looked at him.
"Coming with you."
"No."
"Yes."
"Lily."
Her voice became firm.
"You said Ethan needs you."
A pause.
"He also needs me."
Victor stared at her.
"It's too dangerous."
She smiled sadly.
"You always say that."
"And you're always right."
"No."
She shook her head.
"I'm always there anyway."
For a moment...
Victor had no answer.
Because that was Lily.
The woman who stood between danger and his son.
The woman who never ran.
The location was an abandoned church outside Chicago.
The perfect place for Serena.
Old.
Empty.
Forgotten.
Victor and Lily entered together.
Every step echoed.
Then they heard it.
A child crying.
"Ethan!"
Lily moved.
Victor grabbed her hand.
"Wait."
The lights turned on.
Serena stood at the altar.
Holding Ethan.
Smiling.
"You came."
Victor's eyes locked on his son.
"Ethan."
The little boy reached toward him.
"Dada!"
Serena smiled.
"See?"
She looked at Victor.
"Even now, he chooses you."
A pause.
"Not me."
Something dark crossed her face.
"Do you know how painful that is?"
Victor stepped forward.
"Serena."
"No."
Her voice cracked.
"You don't understand."
She looked at Lily.
"She took everything."
Lily stared.
"I never took anything from you."
Serena laughed.
"You took him."
A pause.
"You took my future."
Victor's expression hardened.
"You were never his mother."
The words destroyed her.
Because they were true.
Suddenly, alarms started.
Serena looked confused.
Victor smiled.
For the first time.
"You made one mistake."
She froze.
"What?"
"You thought I came here alone."
The doors opened.
Marcus and the Blackwood team entered.
Serena's face changed.
"No."
Victor stepped forward.
"You forgot something."
A pause.
"You spent years studying me."
His eyes became cold.
"But you never understood me."
Then Serena pressed a button.
The timer accelerated.
00:05:00
Lily looked at the screen.
"Victor..."
Serena smiled.
"Now let's see what you choose."
She pointed toward Ethan.
"The empire."
Then she pointed toward Lily.
"Or the woman who destroyed everything."
Victor looked at both.
Serena expected hesitation.
Fear.
Panic.
But instead...
Victor walked toward Lily.
He took her hand.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"My family."
Serena froze.
Because she understood.
The choice was never between them.
They were both his family.
But before anyone could stop her...
Serena grabbed a weapon from the table.
And aimed it directly at Lily.
"You always win."
Her voice shook.
"Not this time."
Everything happened in seconds.
Ethan screamed.
Lily turned.
Victor moved.
A gunshot exploded.
When the smoke cleared...
Someone was on the ground.
But it wasn't Lily.
It wasn't Ethan.
May you like
It was Victor.
END OF CHAPTER 12
