CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 4
THE ENEMY INSIDE THE FAMILY
The Blackwood mansion had never been this quiet.
Not even during funerals.
Not even during the nights when Victor Blackwood returned home covered in the shadows of his own world.
The silence now felt different.
It was the silence before a storm.
Every security guard had been replaced.
Every entrance was locked.
Every employee had been questioned.
Because someone had entered the hospital system.
Someone had searched for Ethan’s medical records.
Someone wanted to know whether Victor Blackwood’s only son was alive.
And that meant one thing.
The attack was not over.
Victor stood inside his private office, staring at the wall of security monitors.
The screens showed every corner of the mansion.
The gates.
The hallways.
The nursery.
Ethan’s room.
And one screen in particular.
The one showing Lily sitting beside Ethan’s bed.
She had barely slept since they returned home.
Every few minutes, she checked on him.
Every time he moved, she woke up.
Victor watched her silently.
His security chief, Marcus, stood behind him.
"Boss."
Victor didn't answer.
Marcus continued.
"We checked the hospital records."
"And?"
"There was an attempt to delete Ethan's file."
Victor's expression remained cold.
"Who?"
"We don't know yet."
That answer was not acceptable.
Not to Victor Blackwood.
"Everyone leaves a trace."
Marcus nodded.
"We found one."
Victor turned.
"What?"
"A fake employee ID was used."
"Name?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Daniel Cross."
The room became colder.
Victor knew that name.
Everyone in his organization knew that name.
Daniel Cross had once been one of Victor's most trusted men.
Until three years ago.
Until he betrayed him.
Until Victor believed he had eliminated every threat.
"Impossible."
Marcus lowered his voice.
"We thought he was gone."
Victor looked back at the screen.
At Ethan.
At Lily.
His jaw tightened.
"He isn't."
Across the mansion, Lily sat beside Ethan.
The little boy was awake.
But he was different.
Usually, Ethan was curious.
Always reaching for things.
Always laughing when Lily made silly faces.
Now he barely moved.
He held onto her finger.
Like he was afraid she would disappear.
"I'm here."
Lily whispered.
"I won't leave."
Ethan looked at her.
His eyes slowly closed.
Lily swallowed the tears threatening to fall.
She hated seeing him like this.
A child shouldn't know fear.
A child shouldn't understand pain.
Footsteps approached.
She looked up.
Victor stood at the doorway.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Ethan opened his eyes.
"Dada."
The single word changed Victor's expression.
He walked inside immediately.
"Hey, little man."
He sat beside them.
Lily moved back slightly.
Victor noticed.
"You don't have to leave."
She looked surprised.
"You want me to stay?"
Victor looked at Ethan.
"He does."
A small silence followed.
Then Victor added:
"And so do I."
Lily looked at him.
The words were simple.
But coming from Victor Blackwood...
They meant something.
That night, Victor gathered everyone.
The entire household staff stood in the grand hall.
No one spoke.
Victor stood at the top of the stairs.
The same place where he had once announced business decisions that changed the city.
But tonight, his voice carried something different.
A father's fear.
"Someone inside this house helped Serena."
Everyone became nervous.
Victor continued.
"Someone gave her information."
Silence.
"Someone allowed her access to my son."
The servants lowered their heads.
"I will find who."
His eyes moved across the room.
"And when I do..."
Nobody needed him to finish.
They knew.
Later, Lily found Victor alone in the library.
He was holding an old photograph.
She recognized it.
Ethan's mother.
"You miss her."
Victor didn't expect the question.
He looked at the picture.
"Every day."
Lily stayed quiet.
"She trusted people too easily."
His voice became distant.
"That's what got her killed."
Lily looked at him.
"Do you think trusting someone is weakness?"
Victor looked at her.
"Yes."
She shook her head.
"No."
A small frown appeared on his face.
"You disagree with me often."
"Because you're often wrong."
For a second...
Victor almost smiled.
Almost.
Then Lily continued:
"Trusting the wrong person hurts."
She looked toward Ethan's room.
"But refusing to trust anyone means the people who truly care about you can never reach you."
Victor said nothing.
Because she was right.
And he hated that she was right.
At midnight, the security alarm exploded through the mansion.
Everyone moved instantly.
Guards rushed through the halls.
Victor was already running.
Not walking.
Running.
Because there was only one place he cared about.
Ethan's room.
He opened the door.
Empty.
The blood drained from his face.
"Ethan?"
Nothing.
Then—
"Lily?"
No answer.
Victor's heart stopped.
The room looked untouched.
The window was closed.
The guards searched every corner.
Then Marcus noticed something.
A small piece of paper on the floor.
Victor picked it up.
Three words were written.
YOU FAILED AGAIN.
His expression changed.
Because he knew that handwriting.
Daniel Cross.
But there was something else.
Something that made Victor's blood run cold.
Under the message was a photograph.
A photograph taken only minutes ago.
Of Lily.
Holding Ethan.
Sleeping.
Someone had been inside the room.
Watching them.
Victor crushed the paper in his hand.
For years, enemies had tried to destroy him.
None had succeeded.
But now...
They had found his weakness.
His family.
Meanwhile, across the city...
Serena Montigue sat inside a dark room.
A glass of wine rested in her hand.
She looked at the news report playing on television.
"Victor Blackwood's son survives mysterious attack."
She smiled.
The same beautiful smile that had fooled everyone.
"You really thought you could throw me away?"
She looked at the man sitting across from her.
Daniel Cross.
The man Victor believed was gone.
"The first mistake Victor made," Serena said softly,
"was loving someone."
Daniel smiled.
"And the second?"
Serena looked at the photo of Lily.
"The second was thinking a nanny could save him."
She lifted her glass.
"Now we destroy everything."
Back at the mansion, Victor stood beside Ethan's bed.
Lily was there too.
Neither of them spoke.
They both understood.
This was no longer about a broken engagement.
No longer about Serena's jealousy.
This was war.
And the enemy was closer than anyone imagined.
Inside the family.
Inside the house.
May you like
Inside the walls they thought were safe.
END OF CHAPTER 4
