CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 7
THE RETURN OF VICTORIA LAURENT
The world thought Victoria Laurent had disappeared.
After Adrian Blackwood ended their partnership, after security escorted her out of the mansion, after every major company distanced themselves from the Laurent family…
People assumed she was finished.
They were wrong.
Victoria Laurent was not the type of woman who accepted defeat.
She was the type of woman who waited.
She waited until people became comfortable.
She waited until they believed the danger was gone.
And then…
She returned.
Three weeks had passed since Thomas Reed betrayed the Blackwoods.
Three weeks since the photograph appeared.
Three weeks since Adrian saw the words:
YOU NEVER KNEW WHO YOU MARRIED.
But the worst part was not the message.
The worst part was that a small part of him wondered if there was truth behind it.
And Adrian hated himself for that.
Because Elena had done nothing wrong.
She had proven herself every day.
She had saved his son before anyone else.
She had stood beside him when everyone abandoned him.
She had loved him before his wealth meant anything.
But the human mind was cruel.
A single doubt could destroy years of trust.
And Victoria knew that.
Adrian sat in his office late at night.
The city lights reflected against the window.
Marcus stood nearby.
"You need to sleep."
Adrian ignored him.
"Find Thomas."
"We are trying."
"Trying isn't enough."
Marcus remained silent.
He knew Adrian was angry.
But he also knew something else.
Adrian was afraid.
"Boss."
Adrian looked up.
"What?"
Marcus hesitated.
"Do you believe the photograph?"
The room became quiet.
Adrian looked down.
"I believe Elena."
Marcus nodded.
"But?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"But I don't know what she is hiding."
Those words hurt him.
Because they sounded like betrayal.
And he knew it.
Meanwhile, Elena was slowly becoming distant.
Not because she stopped loving Adrian.
Because she was hurt.
The man who once trusted her without questions…
Had started searching for answers about her.
She understood why.
But understanding pain did not make it disappear.
One afternoon, Elena stood in the nursery.
The room was almost complete.
Tiny clothes.
A small bed.
Toys waiting for their child.
She placed a hand on her stomach.
"I'm sorry."
She whispered.
Not to the baby.
To herself.
Because she had promised Adrian honesty.
But there was one truth she had never been able to say.
One truth she was terrified would change everything.
The door opened.
Adrian entered.
Immediately, he noticed her expression.
"Elena."
She didn't turn.
"What?"
His heart hurt hearing the distance in her voice.
"I want to talk."
"About what?"
He paused.
"Your past."
Silence.
There it was.
The thing she feared.
"Adrian."
"I am not accusing you."
"Then what are you doing?"
He struggled to answer.
Because the truth was complicated.
"I am trying to understand."
She finally looked at him.
"Do you still love me?"
The question shocked him.
"Of course."
"Then why does it feel like I am on trial?"
He had no answer.
Because she was right.
Before he could speak, the mansion security system activated.
Marcus's voice came through.
"Mr. Blackwood."
Adrian immediately changed.
"What happened?"
"Someone is outside."
"Who?"
A pause.
"Victoria Laurent."
Elena froze.
Adrian's expression became cold.
"She came here?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Marcus answered:
"She says she has proof."
Minutes later, Victoria entered the mansion.
But this time…
She did not walk in like a guest.
She walked in like someone who believed she had already won.
She wore a black dress.
No gold.
No arrogance.
Only confidence.
Adrian stood at the entrance.
"You have five minutes."
Victoria smiled.
"Still pretending you are in control."
"I am."
She looked past him.
At Elena.
Then smiled.
"Hello, Elena."
Elena said nothing.
Victoria looked around.
"Interesting."
A pause.
"Everyone finally knows who you are."
She looked at Elena's expensive clothes.
"But I wonder..."
Her eyes became cold.
"How long before they know who you really are?"
Adrian stepped forward.
"Leave."
Victoria ignored him.
She removed a folder from her bag.
"I brought something."
She placed it on the table.
"Something your wife never told you."
Elena's face changed.
Adrian noticed.
"Victoria."
She smiled.
"Ask her."
Silence.
"Ask her why she never told you about the Carter family."
Adrian looked at Elena.
"What is she talking about?"
Elena looked away.
And that small movement was enough.
Victoria smiled.
"See?"
"Even now, she can't tell you."
Adrian picked up the folder.
Inside were documents.
Old records.
Family information.
A picture.
A young Elena standing beside an elderly man.
A man Adrian recognized.
His expression changed.
Because that man was connected to the Blackwood family.
"What is this?"
Victoria leaned closer.
"The truth."
Elena finally spoke.
"Adrian..."
He looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Her eyes filled.
"Because I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"Of losing you."
Victoria smiled.
"Now we are getting somewhere."
She revealed the first piece of information.
Elena Carter was not simply adopted.
Her biological family had a connection to one of Adrian's greatest enemies.
A family that had nearly destroyed the Blackwood empire decades ago.
Adrian stared at the documents.
"This isn't possible."
Victoria laughed softly.
"You spent years believing you knew everything."
A pause.
"But you married a woman whose bloodline could destroy everything you built."
Elena stepped forward.
"That's not who I am."
Victoria looked at her.
"No?"
She smiled.
"Then why did you hide it?"
The question hurt.
Because Elena had no answer that could satisfy everyone.
Adrian looked between them.
The woman he loved.
The woman who had betrayed him.
Or the woman who was trying to destroy his marriage.
He didn't know.
And that terrified him.
Victoria saw the hesitation.
She knew she had achieved exactly what she wanted.
Not anger.
Not hatred.
Doubt.
"Think carefully, Adrian."
She picked up her bag.
"Because the woman you are protecting..."
She looked at Elena.
"May be the same woman who can destroy you."
She walked toward the door.
But before leaving, she whispered:
"Oh, and Adrian?"
He looked at her.
"That was only the beginning."
After Victoria left, the mansion became silent.
A painful silence.
Elena looked at Adrian.
Waiting.
Hoping.
"Say something."
He didn't.
And that hurt more than any accusation.
Finally, Adrian spoke.
"I need time."
Those three words broke something inside her.
Because time meant doubt.
And doubt meant everything had changed.
That night, Elena packed a small bag.
Not because she wanted to leave.
Because she needed to remember who she was before everyone decided her identity for her.
When Adrian saw her at the door…
His heart stopped.
"Where are you going?"
She looked at him.
"Somewhere I don't have to prove I deserve to be loved."
Then she walked away.
Leaving Adrian Blackwood standing alone.
For the first time in years…
Powerless.
Across the city, Victoria watched the security cameras.
She smiled.
"Perfect."
Daniel looked at her.
"You separated them."
Victoria shook her head.
"No."
A pause.
"I did something better."
She looked at the broken image of Adrian and Elena.
"I made him question the only person he would die for."
And that was the beginning of the real war.
Not between companies.
Not between families.
But between love…
May you like
And the truth hidden behind a maid uniform.
END OF CHAPTER 7
