Chapter 11 — The Betrayal Inside the Family
Chapter 11 — The Betrayal Inside the Family
The photograph remained on Victor's desk until dawn.
No one touched it.
No one spoke.
The woman in the photograph had been declared dead twelve years ago.
Yet her account had transferred money two weeks earlier.
And someone had used that money to finance the conspiracy against Ethan.
Victor stood by the window, staring at the city.
Lily sat across from him.
Marcus stood near the door.
For the first time since the nightmare began, nobody knew what to say.
Then Victor's phone rang.
One call.
No number.
He answered.
"Victor."
The voice was distorted.
"You finally found the account."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
A quiet laugh.
"Ask yourself a better question."
"What question?"
"Who has been standing beside you this entire time?"
The line went dead.
Victor slowly lowered the phone.
Lily looked at him.
"Someone close to you."
Victor nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus frowned.
"We already checked everyone."
Victor turned toward him.
"Then check again."
The List
By 7:00 a.m., Marcus had assembled a list of everyone with access to Blackwood Manor, Ethan, Victor's finances, and the family trust.
Security personnel.
Doctors.
Lawyers.
Accountants.
Household employees.
Family members.
The list contained thirty-seven names.
Victor crossed out twenty-three immediately.
Some had been investigated.
Others had no access to the relevant systems.
That left fourteen.
Marcus looked at the names.
"One of them is working for Serena."
Victor said nothing.
Lily studied the list.
Then she noticed something.
"Wait."
She pointed.
"Why is her name here?"
Victor looked down.
Claire Blackwood.
His younger sister.
Lily's voice became quiet.
"She was at the gala."
Victor nodded.
"She was."
"She was also at the hospital the night Ethan was injured."
Victor looked at Marcus.
"Why wasn't she questioned?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Because she's family."
Victor's expression hardened.
"That's not an answer."
Claire
Claire Blackwood had always been the perfect sister.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
Quiet.
She rarely argued.
She never competed with Victor.
She had spent years appearing to be the only person in the family who genuinely loved him.
When their mother died, Claire had stayed beside Victor.
When their father became distant, Claire defended him.
When Victor married, Claire welcomed Lily.
She had even warned Victor about Serena.
At least, that was what Victor remembered.
Lily, however, remembered something different.
"Claire didn't like Serena."
Victor looked at her.
"I know."
"She used to tell me Serena was dangerous."
Victor nodded.
"Exactly."
Lily frowned.
"Then why does something feel wrong?"
Victor looked at her.
"What?"
"She always knew too much."
The Forgotten Conversation
Lily remembered a conversation from months earlier.
Claire had entered the nursery.
Ethan was sleeping.
Lily had been organizing his clothes.
Claire stood beside the crib.
Then she asked:
"Has Serena been alone with him?"
Lily had answered yes.
Claire's face had changed.
She looked frightened.
But then she said something strange.
"Whatever happens, don't trust what you see."
At the time, Lily had assumed Claire was warning her about Serena.
Now—
she wasn't sure.
Victor listened carefully.
"Did she say anything else?"
Lily nodded.
"She asked whether Ethan's medical records were stored digitally."
Victor froze.
"Why would she ask that?"
"I don't know."
Victor looked toward Marcus.
"Find out."
The Hospital Records
Marcus returned two hours later.
His face was grim.
"Claire accessed Ethan's medical records."
Victor stared at him.
"When?"
"Three times."
"Before the injuries?"
Marcus nodded.
"The first access occurred two days before Ethan's first unexplained injury."
Silence.
Victor's jaw tightened.
"Who authorized her?"
"No one."
"How did she get access?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Through your administrative credentials."
Victor stared at him.
"Mine?"
"Yes."
Lily looked at Victor.
"Could Serena have used them?"
"Possibly."
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
He placed another file on the table.
"Because the access came from Claire's personal device."
Victor's expression hardened.
The First Betrayal
Victor called Claire.
She answered immediately.
"Victor?"
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"I need to see you."
A pause.
"Of course."
"Now."
Another pause.
"Is something wrong?"
Victor looked at Lily.
"Everything."
Claire arrived forty minutes later.
She walked into the library wearing a cream-colored coat.
She looked perfectly calm.
"What's happening?"
Victor stood behind the desk.
"Sit down."
Claire frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I have questions."
Her eyes moved toward Lily.
Then Marcus.
Then back to Victor.
"What kind of questions?"
Victor placed the medical access logs on the desk.
Claire's face went pale.
Only for a second.
Then she recovered.
"I can explain."
Victor's voice became cold.
"Then explain."
The Lie
Claire sat down.
"I accessed Ethan's records because I was worried."
"Why?"
"Because Serena was behaving strangely."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I tried."
"When?"
"You wouldn't listen."
Victor stared at her.
"You never told me."
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
"You were in love with Serena."
"I was never in love with her."
"You trusted her."
"That's different."
Claire looked away.
Victor pushed another document toward her.
"The first access occurred before Ethan was injured."
Claire didn't answer.
"How did you know to look?"
"I suspected something."
"How?"
"I don't remember."
Victor's expression changed.
"You don't remember?"
Claire shook her head.
"I was under stress."
Marcus stepped forward.
"Your device also accessed the Blackwood trust."
Claire looked at him.
"That wasn't me."
"Then who?"
Silence.
Victor watched her carefully.
Then he asked:
"Who gave you the password?"
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
"I can't tell you."
Victor's heart sank.
"Why?"
"Because they'll kill me."
The Name
Victor's voice softened.
"Claire."
She shook her head.
"You don't understand."
"Tell me."
"I can't."
"Tell me."
"They have my daughter."
Silence.
Lily stepped forward.
"What?"
Claire covered her face.
"My daughter."
Victor stared at her.
"I thought she was studying abroad."
"She was."
"Where is she now?"
Claire whispered:
"With them."
Victor's expression became murderous.
"Who?"
Claire finally looked up.
"Serena."
The Truth
Claire began to cry.
"Serena threatened me."
"She said if I didn't cooperate, she'd hurt my daughter."
Victor stared at her.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing at first."
"Then?"
"She showed me photographs."
"Of your daughter?"
Claire nodded.
"Then she showed me videos."
Victor's fists clenched.
"What did she make you do?"
"Give her access."
"To what?"
"Medical records."
"The trust."
"Security."
"Your father's files."
Victor stared at her.
"And you did it."
Claire looked at him.
"I thought I was saving my daughter."
Victor's voice became cold.
"You helped them hurt Ethan."
Claire broke down.
"I didn't know they were going to hurt him."
"But you knew something was happening."
"Yes."
"You saw the bruises."
"Yes."
"And you said nothing."
Claire covered her face.
"I was afraid."
Lily looked at her.
"So was I."
Claire looked up.
Lily's voice remained calm.
"But I didn't help them."
The Second Betrayal
Victor wasn't finished.
"Who gave Serena the information about the trust?"
Claire hesitated.
"I don't know."
"You do."
"No."
"Claire."
She looked at him.
"Your father."
Victor went completely still.
"My father?"
Claire nodded.
"He told me the trust had a weakness."
"What weakness?"
"The guardian clause."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"He knew."
"Yes."
"How?"
"Because he helped create it."
Victor stared at her.
Everything suddenly made sense.
His father's behavior.
The trust.
The medical manipulation.
Serena's obsession with Ethan.
The attempts to make Victor appear unstable.
It had all been coordinated.
But there was still one question.
"Who was the woman behind the dead account?"
Claire began shaking.
"I don't know."
Victor stared at her.
"Claire."
"I swear."
"Then tell me everything you do know."
She swallowed.
"There was a name."
"What name?"
"Helena."
Victor frowned.
"Helena who?"
Claire looked terrified.
"Helena Blackwood."
Victor stopped breathing.
The Name That Shouldn't Exist
Lily looked confused.
"Who is Helena?"
Victor didn't answer.
Claire did.
"Your grandmother."
Victor turned toward her.
"My grandmother died before I was born."
"That's what everyone believed."
Victor stared at the photograph on his desk.
The woman standing beside Adrian Vale.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
Claire whispered:
"She didn't die."
Victor felt the room tilt.
"Where is she?"
"I don't know."
"Claire."
"I swear."
"Then how did her account move money?"
Claire looked toward the photograph.
"Because she's still alive."
The Hidden Accomplice
Victor immediately called Marcus.
"Find Helena Blackwood."
Marcus hesitated.
"Sir, if she officially died—"
"Then find her unofficially."
"Understood."
Claire suddenly stood.
"Victor."
He turned.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"Serena wasn't the person giving orders."
Victor stared at her.
"Who was?"
Claire's voice became barely audible.
"Helena."
Silence.
"The entire time?"
Claire nodded.
"Serena was afraid of her."
Victor looked at Lily.
Lily whispered:
"So Serena wasn't the mastermind."
"No," Victor said.
"She was only another piece."
The Recording
Marcus returned with one more discovery.
A security recording.
It showed Claire entering the underground garage three months earlier.
She wasn't alone.
Serena stood beside her.
And behind Serena—
an elderly woman.
Victor watched the footage.
He recognized her immediately.
Helena.
His grandmother.
Alive.
She handed Serena an envelope.
Then she looked directly at the camera.
And smiled.
Victor's blood ran cold.
She knew she was being recorded.
Which meant she wanted them to find it.
The Message
The video suddenly changed.
A black screen appeared.
White letters appeared one by one.
VICTOR.
Then:
YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOO CURIOUS.
Another line.
YOU HAVE ALSO ALWAYS BEEN TOO LATE.
Victor stared.
The final message appeared.
COME HOME.
Then:
ALONE.
Lily shook her head.
"No."
Victor looked at her.
"Stay here."
"No."
"Lily."
"I'm coming."
"It's dangerous."
"I know."
Victor stared at her.
She continued:
"You told me Ethan needed someone who stays."
She stepped closer.
"So I'm staying."
Claire's Choice
Claire wiped her tears.
"I'm coming too."
Victor looked at her.
"You betrayed us."
"I know."
"You helped them."
"I know."
"You could have cost Ethan his life."
Claire nodded.
"I know."
"Then why should I trust you?"
Claire looked directly into his eyes.
"You shouldn't."
She paused.
"But I know where Helena is."
Victor said nothing.
Claire continued:
"And I know how to get inside."
Lily looked at Victor.
Victor finally nodded.
"Then we're going together."
The House in the Woods
That night, three vehicles left Blackwood Manor.
Victor.
Lily.
Claire.
Marcus followed behind with a small security team.
They drove for nearly two hours.
The city disappeared.
The roads narrowed.
Trees swallowed the moonlight.
Finally, Claire pointed toward an unmarked road.
"There."
Victor looked ahead.
A massive iron gate appeared.
No address.
No security cameras.
No guards.
Just one symbol carved into the stone.
A black rose.
Victor recognized it.
The Montigue symbol.
But beneath it was another mark.
The Blackwood crest.
Two families.
One secret.
Victor stepped out of the vehicle.
Lily stood beside him.
Claire remained behind.
Victor looked toward the enormous house hidden among the trees.
"She wants us here."
Lily nodded.
"Then let's find out why."
The Woman Waiting Inside
The front doors opened before anyone touched them.
Warm light spilled across the stone steps.
An elderly woman stood inside.
Silver hair.
Elegant black dress.
A cane in one hand.
Her eyes were sharp.
Cold.
Familiar.
Victor stared at her.
"Grandmother."
Helena smiled.
"My grandson."
Victor's fists tightened.
"You should be dead."
Helena laughed softly.
"Death is useful."
She stepped aside.
"It makes people stop looking."
Victor didn't move.
"Why did you do this?"
Helena's smile disappeared.
"Because your father was weak."
"And Serena?"
"A useful girl."
"Claire?"
"A frightened one."
"And Ethan?"
Helena looked toward Lily.
Then back at Victor.
"Your son is the most important person in this family."
Victor's voice became dangerous.
"You hurt him."
"No."
She shook her head.
"I protected him."
Victor stared at her.
"From what?"
Helena smiled.
"From you."
The Door Behind Her
Victor stepped forward.
Helena turned.
"Come inside."
"No."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You came all this way."
Victor looked at Lily.
Then Claire.
Then the house.
Finally, he stepped across the threshold.
The doors closed behind them.
A deep mechanical sound echoed through the house.
Lily turned.
The locks had engaged.
Victor looked at Helena.
She smiled.
"Now."
She tapped her cane against the floor.
A hidden wall opened.
Behind it was a room filled with photographs.
Victor.
Lily.
Ethan.
Serena.
Claire.
Victor's father.
Adrian.
Every person connected to the conspiracy.
Every movement.
Every meeting.
Every secret.
Victor stared in horror.
Helena whispered:
"You thought you were investigating us."
She looked at Lily.
"But you've been walking through our plan from the moment you entered this family."
Lily's face went pale.
Victor stepped in front of her.
Helena smiled.
"And now..."
May you like
She closed the hidden door.
"...you finally know where the real war begins."
