Chapter 4 — The Nanny They Tried to Destroy
Chapter 4 — The Nanny They Tried to Destroy
At 6:03 the next morning, Lily discovered that she had become a criminal.
Not in the eyes of the law.
Not yet.
But according to the story Serena had already begun spreading, Lily was a dangerous nanny who had nearly injured a billionaire's child.
The first accusation arrived in an email.
The second came through a phone call.
By breakfast, there were three.
By noon, Lily's name had been attached to a report she had never seen.
And by evening, someone had sent Victor a photograph of Lily holding Ethan while he cried.
The caption beneath it read:
Nanny loses control of child.
Victor stared at the photograph for several seconds.
Then he looked at Harris.
“Who sent this?”
“Anonymous account.”
“Trace it.”
“We're trying.”
Victor turned the screen toward himself.
The photograph had been taken from inside the mansion.
Again.
Someone was watching them.
But there was something else.
Lily wasn't hurting Ethan.
She was holding him against her chest.
Protecting him.
Victor recognized the expression on her face.
Fear.
Not anger.
Fear.
He remembered the first night.
The way she had thrown herself between Serena and his son.
The way she had stayed beside Ethan when everyone else had gone home.
The way she had been afraid to speak, yet somehow still found the courage to tell him the truth.
Someone wanted Victor to stop trusting her.
That meant Lily was important.
Perhaps more important than he realized.
“Bring her to me.”
Lily entered Victor's office twenty minutes later.
She looked exhausted.
“Sir?”
“Sit.”
She did.
Victor placed the photograph on the desk.
She looked at it.
Then her face went pale.
“Where did you get this?”
“Someone sent it.”
“They're lying.”
“I know.”
Lily stared at him.
Victor watched her carefully.
“I believe you.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
She looked down.
“Thank you.”
Victor leaned forward.
“Now tell me what Serena has done.”
Lily hesitated.
“Everything?”
“Everything you remember.”
She took a breath.
“She started slowly.”
“How?”
“At first, she only criticized me.”
“For what?”
“Everything.”
Lily gave a nervous laugh.
“How I dressed. How I held Ethan. How I prepared his food. How quickly I responded when he cried.”
Victor frowned.
“She wanted you nervous.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“So I'd make a mistake.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“Then?”
“She began changing the schedule.”
“What schedule?”
“Ethan's feeding and sleeping schedule.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“Did she tell you?”
“She said she wanted him to become more independent.”
Victor stared at her.
“Independent?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head.
“She wanted him exhausted.”
Lily nodded.
“Sometimes she would keep him awake for hours.”
“Why?”
“Then when he cried, she'd say I couldn't control him.”
Victor's jaw tightened.
“She created the problem.”
“And blamed you for it.”
“Yes.”
Silence settled between them.
Victor asked:
“When did she first threaten you?”
Lily looked toward the door.
“Three weeks after she moved in.”
“What happened?”
“I told her Ethan was bruised.”
“And?”
“She told me I had imagined it.”
Lily's voice became quieter.
“Then she said, ‘People like you don't get to question people like me.’”
Victor's eyes darkened.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed the job.”
Victor looked at her.
“You have children?”
Lily shook her head.
“My mother.”
“She's sick?”
“She has diabetes.”
Victor nodded.
“So Serena knew she had leverage.”
“Yes.”
“Did she ever use your mother against you?”
Lily swallowed.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“She knew I sent most of my salary home.”
Victor's expression changed.
“She threatened to have me fired.”
Lily looked at him.
“And she said my mother would lose her treatment.”
Victor sat back.
He had thought Serena was cruel.
Now he understood something worse.
She was deliberate.
She studied people's weaknesses.
Then she used them.
At 9:40 a.m., Serena received a message.
Lily is talking.
Serena stared at the screen.
She typed:
How much does he know?
The reply came immediately.
Enough to be dangerous.
Serena's fingers trembled.
She looked around her suite.
She was alone.
But she no longer felt safe.
Another message arrived.
Destroy her credibility.
Serena typed:
How?
Three dots appeared.
Then:
Make Victor believe she attacked Ethan.
Serena stared at the words.
A slow smile appeared on her face.
It was the same smile Victor had once loved.
The perfect smile.
The harmless smile.
The smile that convinced everyone Serena was incapable of cruelty.
She stood.
“Fine.”
That afternoon, Serena called an emergency meeting with the household staff.
Victor wasn't there.
That was exactly what she wanted.
She stood in the center of the kitchen.
Her voice was gentle.
“I don't want anyone frightened.”
The staff remained silent.
“Something happened to Ethan.”
A housemaid lowered her eyes.
Serena continued.
“Someone hurt him.”
Lily wasn't present.
She was upstairs with Ethan.
Serena sighed.
“I know everyone is loyal to this family.”
She paused.
“And I know some people may be afraid to speak.”
The implication was obvious.
The staff began whispering.
Serena looked at them.
“If you know anything, you must tell me.”
No one spoke.
Then she saw Clara.
The older housekeeper.
Clara's expression was unreadable.
Serena walked toward her.
“Clara.”
“Yes, ma'am?”
“You've worked here longer than anyone.”
“Yes.”
“You've seen everything.”
Clara said nothing.
“Did you ever see Lily lose her temper?”
Clara looked directly at Serena.
“No.”
Serena smiled.
“Think carefully.”
“I have.”
“Then?”
“No.”
Serena's smile disappeared.
“Are you calling me a liar?”
Clara's voice remained calm.
“No.”
“Then why won't you answer?”
“Because I have nothing to accuse Lily of.”
Serena stared at her.
Then she smiled again.
“Of course.”
She turned toward the others.
“You're all dismissed.”
When the room emptied, Serena remained standing.
Her perfect smile vanished.
She whispered:
“Clara.”
The older woman turned.
“Yes?”
“You should be careful.”
Clara looked at her.
“So should you.”
Serena froze.
Clara walked away.
Upstairs, Ethan was sleeping.
Lily sat beside him.
Victor entered.
“How is he?”
“Better.”
Victor looked at the child.
“Did he eat?”
“Yes.”
“Sleep?”
“Yes.”
“Any crying?”
“Not much.”
Victor smiled.
“Good.”
Lily looked at him.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Why are you protecting me?”
Victor frowned.
“What kind of question is that?”
“Because everyone else believes her.”
Victor looked at Lily.
“I don't.”
“Why?”
He thought about it.
“Because you had every reason to run.”
She looked down.
“But you stayed.”
Victor's voice softened.
“People don't risk themselves for something they don't care about.”
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
“I love him.”
“I know.”
Victor looked at Ethan.
“And I won't forget that.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the nursery door opened.
Serena stood there.
Victor's expression changed.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to apologize.”
Lily immediately stood.
Serena looked at her.
“I owe you one.”
Lily didn't respond.
Serena stepped closer.
“I was upset.”
“You kicked me.”
“I know.”
“You threatened me.”
“I was wrong.”
Victor watched carefully.
Serena looked sincere.
Almost broken.
“I was scared.”
“Of what?” Victor asked.
She looked at Ethan.
“Of losing him.”
Victor didn't answer.
Serena's eyes filled with tears.
“I love him.”
Lily looked away.
Serena continued.
“I know you don't believe me.”
“No.”
“I understand.”
Then she looked at Lily.
“Can we start over?”
Lily hesitated.
“No.”
Serena's face tightened.
Victor noticed.
“Why not?”
Lily answered quietly.
“Because I don't trust you.”
Serena's eyes hardened for half a second.
Then the smile returned.
“That's fair.”
She walked out.
Victor watched the door close.
“She's planning something.”
Lily nodded.
“I know.”
That evening, the police arrived.
Victor was in the study when Harris informed him.
“Two officers.”
“What do they want?”
“They received a complaint.”
“About?”
Harris hesitated.
“Lily.”
Victor's expression hardened.
“Bring them in.”
Two detectives entered.
One was a woman in her forties.
Detective Mara Collins.
She showed Victor her badge.
“We received an allegation of child endangerment.”
Victor stared at her.
“Against whom?”
“Lily Carter.”
Victor remained calm.
“Who filed it?”
“We can't disclose that yet.”
“You can.”
She looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because you're in my home accusing my son's nanny.”
The detective's expression remained professional.
“Mr. Blackwood, we're not accusing anyone. We're investigating.”
Victor nodded.
“Then investigate properly.”
“We need to speak with Lily.”
“She'll cooperate.”
The detective glanced around.
“Where is the child?”
“Upstairs.”
“Can we see him?”
“Yes.”
Victor led them upstairs.
Lily was waiting.
She looked terrified.
Detective Collins spoke gently.
“Ms. Carter, we need to ask you some questions.”
“About what?”
“An incident involving Ethan.”
Lily looked at Victor.
He nodded.
“Tell them the truth.”
The interview lasted forty minutes.
Lily answered every question.
Then Detective Collins asked:
“Did you ever become angry with Ethan?”
“No.”
“Did you ever grab him?”
“No.”
“Did you ever shake him?”
“No.”
“Did you ever leave him unattended?”
“No.”
“Did you ever strike him?”
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
“No.”
The detective closed her notebook.
“Thank you.”
When they left, Lily collapsed into a chair.
Victor stood beside her.
“She knows.”
“Who?”
“Serena.”
“What about her?”
“She knows the police are investigating.”
Victor looked at her.
“And?”
“She'll make me look guilty.”
She did.
The next morning, an anonymous video appeared online.
It showed Lily shouting.
The image was grainy.
The audio distorted.
But it sounded terrible.
“I can't stand this child anymore!”
Victor watched it once.
Then again.
He immediately knew something was wrong.
“Where's the original?”
Harris shook his head.
“We're looking.”
“Find it.”
The video spread quickly.
News sites began reporting on it.
BLACKWOOD HEIR'S NANNY ACCUSED OF ABUSE
BILLIONAIRE FAMILY UNDER INVESTIGATION
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ETHAN BLACKWOOD?
Victor's phone wouldn't stop ringing.
Board members.
Lawyers.
Reporters.
Investors.
He ignored them all.
Then Serena called.
Victor answered.
“What?”
Her voice was soft.
“Victor, I'm sorry.”
“For what?”
“For what's happening.”
“You caused it.”
Silence.
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
“I know you don't believe me.”
“I don't.”
She began crying.
“Please don't let this destroy your family.”
Victor closed his eyes.
“You're not worried about my family.”
“What?”
“You're worried about yourself.”
She said nothing.
Victor hung up.
At 8:20 p.m., Harris entered the office.
“We found the original video.”
Victor turned.
“Where?”
“Serena's cloud account.”
Victor stared.
“Show me.”
The original footage played.
Lily was holding Ethan.
She looked exhausted.
She was crying.
And then—
Serena entered.
She shouted something.
Lily responded.
The audio was clear.
“I can't stand this child anymore!”
Victor froze.
But the words had come from Serena.
The edited version had removed the beginning.
Serena had been impersonating Lily.
Harris looked at Victor.
“She edited the recording.”
Victor nodded.
“Of course she did.”
“There is more.”
“What?”
“We recovered the metadata.”
Victor looked at him.
“The video was edited on a computer inside the mansion.”
“Which computer?”
Harris placed a photograph on the desk.
Serena's laptop.
Victor stared at it.
Then another document appeared.
The login history.
Someone had accessed Serena's laptop from a remote location.
Victor frowned.
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“But we know when.”
“When?”
“Three minutes after Serena met Adrian.”
Victor's eyes hardened.
“So Adrian is involved.”
“Maybe.”
Victor shook his head.
“No.”
Harris looked surprised.
“No?”
“Adrian is involved.”
Victor stood.
“But he's not the one controlling her.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Serena is afraid.”
“Of Adrian?”
Victor looked at the screen.
“No.”
He remembered the phone call.
The voice.
The warning.
The mysterious company.
His father's identity.
Victor whispered:
“She answers to someone else.”
That night, Lily received a phone call.
She answered.
“Hello?”
No response.
“Hello?”
A man's voice finally spoke.
“You should leave.”
Lily froze.
“Who is this?”
“You know what happens if you stay.”
“I don't.”
“You will.”
The call ended.
Lily stared at the phone.
Then someone knocked on her apartment door.
She froze.
Another knock.
“Lily?”
Victor's voice.
She opened the door.
Victor stood outside.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded.
Then she began crying.
“What happened?”
She handed him the phone.
Victor listened to the call.
His expression became cold.
“Pack your things.”
“What?”
“You're staying at the Blackwood estate.”
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“They'll find me.”
“Not there.”
“Sir…”
Victor looked at her.
“You protected my son.”
He paused.
“Now I'll protect you.”
Two hours later, Lily moved into a secured guest suite inside the estate.
Victor personally checked every lock.
Every camera.
Every entrance.
Ethan slept safely in the nursery.
For the first time, Lily allowed herself to breathe.
But Victor knew the battle had only begun.
Because someone had tried to destroy Lily's reputation.
Someone had fabricated evidence.
Someone had threatened her.
And someone had enough access to Victor's home to know exactly where she lived.
At 2:31 a.m., Victor stood in the security room.
Harris entered.
“We found something.”
Victor turned.
“What?”
Harris handed him a file.
“We traced the phone number that threatened Lily.”
Victor opened it.
The number was registered to a disposable device.
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
Harris placed another document on the desk.
The phone had connected to a private network.
Victor recognized the network name.
His face went cold.
“That's impossible.”
“What?”
Victor looked at Harris.
“That network belongs to my father's old estate.”
“Your father didn't have an estate outside the country.”
“I know.”
Harris waited.
Victor stared at the document.
Then he said:
“Someone has been using my father's identity for years.”
He closed the file.
“And now they're using Serena.”
Harris asked:
“What do we do?”
Victor looked toward the nursery.
“We find the connection.”
“And Serena?”
Victor's expression hardened.
“Let her continue.”
Harris frowned.
“Sir?”
“She thinks she's destroying Lily.”
Victor looked at the security monitors.
“She doesn't realize she's exposing herself.”
At dawn, Serena stood in front of her bathroom mirror.
Her hands shook.
She had lost control of Victor.
She had failed to destroy Lily.
And now Victor was watching everything.
Her phone rang.
She answered.
“What do you want?”
The voice on the other end was calm.
“You failed.”
“I tried.”
“You were careless.”
“Victor knows.”
“He doesn't know everything.”
“He knows enough.”
Silence.
Then the voice said:
“Then it's time.”
Serena's face went pale.
“Time for what?”
“To use the child.”
She closed her eyes.
“No.”
“You don't get to say no.”
“I won't hurt him again.”
The voice became colder.
“Then we will.”
The call ended.
Serena stared at her reflection.
For the first time, the perfect smile was gone.
She whispered:
“What have I done?”
But there was no one there to answer.
Across town, Victor stood beside Ethan's crib.
The baby slept peacefully.
Victor touched his son's cheek.
“You're safe.”
He didn't know whether that was true.
Not anymore.
Because somewhere beyond the walls of the mansion, the people hunting Ethan were moving closer.
And Lily—the woman they had tried to turn into a monster—had become the one person Victor trusted most.
The attack on her reputation had failed.
But Victor understood the real purpose now.
They hadn't tried to destroy Lily because she was dangerous.
They had tried to destroy her because she knew too much.
And if Victor wanted to uncover the truth about Serena, his father's mysterious identity, and the people behind the conspiracy—
he would have to keep Lily alive long enough to tell him everything.
May you like
Because the next attack would not be aimed at the nanny.
It would be aimed at the child.
