Chapter 8 – The Nanny’s Testimony
Chapter 8 – The Nanny’s Testimony
The accusation hung in the air like a weapon.
"The person behind all of this was Victor Blackwood himself."
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Even the mansion seemed to hold its breath.
Lily stood frozen.
Her hand instinctively tightened around Ethan.
The little boy sensed the tension and buried his face against her shoulder.
Victor did not react immediately.
That was what frightened everyone.
Most people feared Victor when he was angry.
They feared his cold voice.
His threats.
His power.
But Lily had learned something.
The most dangerous version of Victor Blackwood was the man who became completely silent.
"Who are you?"
Victor finally asked.
The woman standing before him looked exhausted.
She looked like someone who had carried a secret for far too long.
"My name is Clara Varela."
The name meant nothing to Lily.
But Victor's expression changed.
"Varela?"
Clara nodded.
"My sister was Isabella's closest friend."
A pause.
"And I was the person Isabella trusted before she died."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"Then why have you been hiding for years?"
Clara looked away.
"Because the people who killed her were still watching."
The room became colder.
Lily looked between them.
She didn't know what to believe.
A woman had just accused Victor—the man who had protected Ethan, the man who had saved her from Serena—of being involved in his own wife's death.
But another part of her remembered something.
Victor himself had said:
Everyone who gets close to my family ends up being hurt.
Maybe he wasn't the only victim.
Maybe he was also hiding something.
"Explain."
Victor ordered.
Clara took a deep breath.
"Before Isabella died, she discovered Adrian wasn't working alone."
Victor's jaw tightened.
"I know."
"No."
Clara shook her head.
"You don't."
She looked directly at him.
"Adrian was not the person Isabella feared most."
Silence.
"She feared someone inside your own circle."
Victor stared.
"My circle?"
"Someone who knew everything."
Clara looked at Ethan.
"Someone who knew exactly how to destroy you."
Lily felt Ethan move.
He was trembling.
She immediately carried him upstairs.
But before leaving, she looked back.
Victor was standing there.
And for the first time since she met him...
He looked uncertain.
One Hour Later
Victor sat in his office.
Clara sat across from him.
The old recording from Isabella was still on the table.
"You said you had proof."
Victor said.
Clara nodded.
"I do."
She removed a small envelope from her bag.
Inside was a document.
Victor opened it.
His face changed.
It was a report.
Financial records.
Communication logs.
Private meetings.
And one signature.
A signature Victor recognized.
His own.
"This is impossible."
Clara looked at him sadly.
"That's what Isabella said too."
Victor looked up.
"What?"
"She found documents showing money transfers from Blackwood accounts."
"To Adrian?"
Clara shook her head.
"No."
A pause.
"To the people who attacked her."
Victor stood.
"You're saying I funded the attack?"
"No."
Clara answered.
"I'm saying someone used your identity."
That changed everything.
Victor slowly sat back down.
Someone had framed him.
Someone had used his name.
His accounts.
His reputation.
Someone close enough to know everything.
"Why didn't Isabella tell me?"
Victor whispered.
Clara looked at him.
"Because she didn't know who she could trust."
Those words hurt more than any accusation.
Because Victor realized something.
Isabella had been surrounded by enemies.
And she had been alone.
Meanwhile...
Lily sat with Ethan in the nursery.
The little boy was asleep.
But she couldn't sleep.
Too many secrets.
Too many lies.
She heard a knock.
Victor entered.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lily asked:
"Is it true?"
Victor stopped.
"What?"
"That your wife didn't trust you?"
The question was painful.
But honest.
Victor looked at Ethan.
"No."
A pause.
"She trusted me."
"Then why hide things?"
Victor had no answer.
And Lily noticed.
That scared her.
Because Victor Blackwood always had answers.
"I don't know everything."
Victor finally admitted.
Lily looked surprised.
"I thought people like you always know."
A faint, bitter smile appeared.
"That's the problem."
He looked toward the window.
"People think power means knowing everything."
A pause.
"Sometimes power only means everyone is afraid to tell you the truth."
Lily understood.
Because that was exactly what had happened to Ethan.
Everyone had been afraid.
And a child had suffered because of it.
The next morning...
Victor made a decision.
He would not hide anymore.
He would hold a formal investigation.
And Lily would testify.
When Lily heard that, she froze.
"Me?"
Victor nodded.
"You're the only person who saw what happened."
Her expression changed.
"I don't know if people will believe me."
Victor looked at her.
"I will."
The words were simple.
But they meant everything.
The Investigation
The room was filled with lawyers, investigators, and security officials.
Serena was not there.
But everyone knew her name.
Lily sat in the witness chair.
Her hands shook.
Victor watched from behind the glass.
He wanted to stand beside her.
But he couldn't.
This was her truth.
Her voice.
Her moment.
"State your name."
"Lily Carter."
"Your occupation?"
"Nanny for Ethan Blackwood."
"Describe what happened that night."
Lily took a breath.
And she began.
She described Serena grabbing Ethan.
She described the crying.
The fear.
The moment she tried to intervene.
The moment Serena attacked her.
Then came the question everyone expected.
"Why should anyone believe you over Serena Montigue?"
The room became silent.
Lily looked down.
Then she answered.
"Because I have nothing to gain."
A pause.
"Serena had everything to lose."
The investigator looked at her.
"And what do you mean?"
Lily looked toward Victor.
Then back.
"She wanted to marry Victor Blackwood."
Silence.
"She wanted his name."
"His money."
"His power."
"But Ethan was always the one thing she couldn't control."
The room was completely silent.
Then the door opened.
Everyone turned.
Serena walked in.
Beautiful.
Calm.
Smiling.
Like nothing had happened.
"I think it's time someone tells the truth."
Lily's heart sank.
Because Serena looked too confident.
Too prepared.
Serena approached slowly.
"Poor Lily."
She smiled.
"She really believes she's the victim."
Victor's eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing here?"
Serena looked at him.
"I'm here to protect myself."
Then she placed a folder on the table.
Everyone stared.
"What is that?"
Serena smiled.
"Evidence."
She opened the folder.
Inside were photographs.
Photos of Lily holding Ethan.
Photos of Lily alone with him.
And one photo that made the room freeze.
Lily standing over Ethan while he cried.
The image looked terrible.
But Lily knew.
It wasn't what it appeared to be.
Serena looked at her.
"Tell them, Lily."
A cruel smile.
"Tell them why you were really obsessed with my fiancé's child."
The room erupted.
Lily felt the ground disappear beneath her.
Because Serena had prepared her final weapon.
Not evidence.
A lie designed to look like truth.
And now Lily had to prove something even harder than innocence.
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She had to prove that the woman everyone admired...
Was the monster hiding behind the perfect smile.
