Chapter 9: Saint Catherine's
Victor drove toward Saint Catherine's with Daniel's tracking device hidden beneath the passenger seat.
He had agreed to come alone.
He had not agreed to come unprotected.
The abandoned boarding school appeared beyond the trees just before sunset, its brick walls blackened by decades of rain.
Victor parked beside the ruined chapel.
His phone rang.
Margaret.
“Walk inside.””
“Where are you?””
“Old assembly hall.””
“Is Serena with you?””
A pause.
“Yes.””
Victor's grip tightened.
“Why?””
“Because this ends tonight.””
The call disconnected.
Victor entered.
Broken windows threw narrow strips of evening light across the corridor.
His footsteps echoed.
Then he heard voices.
“You should have told him years ago,” Serena said.
Margaret answered, “And let Julian destroy another generation?””
Victor pushed open the assembly-hall doors.
Margaret stood near the stage.
Serena was ten feet away.
No weapons.
No dramatic confrontation.
Just two women who looked exhausted by decades of secrets.
Serena smiled.
“My fiancé finally arrived.””
“Don't call me that.””
Her smile disappeared.
Victor looked at Margaret.
“Start talking.””
Margaret's shoulders lowered.
“Julian Cross is your biological father.””
The words still hurt.
“Did Alexander know?””
“Eventually.””
“When?””
“When you were twelve.””
Victor stared at her.
“And he raised me anyway.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“Because he loved you.””
For the first time all day, Victor had no answer.
Margaret continued.
“Julian and I had an affair before I married Alexander. I ended it. Months later, I discovered I was pregnant.””
“You lied about who my father was.””
“I was terrified.””
“So you chose Alexander.””
“He chose you.””
Margaret's voice cracked.
“He knew there was a possibility you weren't his. He married me anyway.””
Victor looked away.
That changed something.
Not the blood test.
The meaning of it.
“Then why did Dad destroy Julian?””
“Because Julian found out years later and demanded you.””
Victor turned back.
“Demanded me?””
“He didn't want a son. He wanted an heir.””
Serena laughed.
“That's what she tells herself.””
Victor looked at her.
“What did Julian tell you?””
“That the Blackwoods stole everything from him. His company. His woman. His son.””
“Meaning me.””
“Yes.””
“And he raised you to take it back.””
Serena's eyes hardened.
“He raised me to understand what was owed.””
Victor almost laughed.
“So you targeted me.””
“I met you exactly where I was told you would be.””
The charity auction.
Every coincidence dissolved.
“Did you ever love me?””
For the first time, Serena hesitated.
“That wasn't supposed to matter.””
“But did it?””
Her jaw tightened.
“Sometimes.””
Victor felt nothing.
“And Noah?””
Serena looked away.
“You hated him because he reminded me of Elise.””
“He stood between my family and what belonged to us.””
“He's three.””
Serena said nothing.
Victor's voice dropped.
“Did you cut Elise's brakes?””
“No.””
Margaret closed her eyes.
Victor looked between them.
“Then who did?””
Serena pointed toward Margaret.
“She knows.””
Victor stared at his mother.
Margaret whispered, “Julian ordered it.””
“You're certain?””
“Yes.””
“How?””
“Because he told me.””
“When?””
“The night after Elise died.””
Victor stepped closer.
“You spoke to him?””
“He came to me. He said Elise had found Alexander, the second will, Serena's identity—everything.””
“Why didn't you go to police?””
“Julian had proof that I helped Alexander fake his death.””
Victor stared at her.
“So you protected yourself.””
“I protected you.””
“No. You protected the lie.””
Margaret flinched.
Serena slowly applauded.
“Finally.””
Victor turned toward her.
“Where is Julian?””
Serena smiled.
“Closer than you think.””
A door opened behind the stage.
An older man walked out.
Victor knew him immediately from Alexander's photographs.
Julian Cross.
Alive.
Calm.
Watching Victor with unsettling familiarity.
“My son.””
Victor's entire body went rigid.
“Don't.””
Julian stopped.
“I've waited thirty-seven years.””
“You waited so long you sent your daughter to marry me?””
Julian glanced at Serena.
“That was never supposed to reach marriage.””
Serena's face changed.
“What?””
Julian ignored her.
“She was supposed to gain access to your household, locate Alexander's trust documents and establish leverage.””
Serena stepped forward.
“You told me Victor was the route to the company.””
“He was.””
“You promised—”
“I promised you what you needed to hear.””
Serena stared at him.
For the first time, Victor saw genuine shock on her face.
Victor said, “You used her too.””
Julian shrugged.
“Everyone uses everyone.””
Margaret whispered, “That's who he is.””
Julian's eyes returned to Victor.
“Alexander stole my life.””
“Alexander raised your son.””
“He stole my son.””
“No.””
Victor stepped closer.
“You abandoned any claim to that word when you killed Elise.””
Julian's expression cooled.
“Elise was unfortunate.””
Margaret inhaled sharply.
Victor felt his fists tighten.
“Say that again.””
“Elise discovered things that would have destroyed decades of planning.””
“So you cut her brakes.””
“I gave an instruction.””
The confession hung in the room.
Victor heard nothing except his own breathing.
Julian smiled faintly.
“You wanted the truth.””
Victor reached into his jacket.
Julian tensed.
Victor removed his phone.
The screen showed an active call.
Detective Hayes.
Julian's smile vanished.
“You stupid boy.””
Victor heard sirens outside.
Serena backed toward the door.
Julian grabbed her wrist.
“You're staying.””
“Let go of me.””
“You created this mess.””
“You told me to get close to him!””
“And instead you became careless.””
Serena jerked free.
“You made me believe Alexander was my father for years!””
Victor understood suddenly.
Alexander's secret payments.
Julian had manipulated both families with the same lie.
Sirens grew louder.
Julian ran toward the side exit.
The door burst open.
Daniel and two detectives entered.
“Police! Stop!””
Julian froze.
Hayes appeared behind them.
Margaret sank into a chair.
Serena stood perfectly still.
Then Julian laughed.
“You think this ends with me?””
Hayes cuffed him.
Victor watched.
Julian turned his head.
“There is one thing Alexander never discovered.””
Victor said nothing.
Julian smiled.
“Ask Serena why Noah was crying before she grabbed his arm.””
Victor looked at her.
Serena's face went pale.
“No.””
Victor stepped toward her.
“What happened before I came home?””
“Victor—”
“What did Noah see?””
Serena looked toward Julian.
He was smiling.
Victor's stomach tightened.
“Serena.””
Her eyes filled with fear.
“He opened your desk.””
“And?””
“He found something Elise hid there.””
“What?””
May you like
Serena whispered:
“A letter addressed to you.””
