Chapter 15: The Choice Between Revenge And Rescue
Adrian didn't react at first.
That scared me more than anger.
He just stood there.
Silent.
Still.
Like his mind had gone somewhere else.
Then he moved.
"We're going.""
Emma blocked the hallway.
"No.""
Adrian looked at her.
"What?""
"You don't understand.""
"My niece was taken.""
"I know.""
"Then move.""
Emma shook her head.
"That's exactly what she wants.""
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"Explain.""
"Victoria doesn't run.""
Emma pointed at the monitors.
"She controls.""
She looked at the empty screens.
"Every move we make is part of her plan.""
Adrian stopped.
Because he knew she was right.
I hated that she was right.
Emma continued.
"She wants you angry.""
"Why?""
"Because angry people make mistakes.""
Adrian looked at her.
"What does she want?""
Emma's expression changed.
"The facility.""
Silence.
"Why?""
"Because this place has everything she needs.""
James looked around.
"Records.""
Emma nodded.
"Evidence.""
Adrian understood.
"She wants to destroy it.""
"Yes.""
"Then we stop her.""
Emma looked at him.
"Not without Lily.""
The words were simple.
But they carried weight.
For the first time, Adrian and Emma stood on the same side.
Not as strangers.
Not as enemies.
As family.
We returned to the control room.
Emma accessed the security system.
"She didn't take Lily far.""
Adrian looked at her.
"How do you know?""
"Because Victoria wants us to find her.""
She pulled up a map.
A location appeared.
An old property.
I recognized the address.
The blue house.
The same place where we found the hidden room.
"She's bringing her back.""
Emma nodded.
"To where everything started.""
The drive back was tense.
Nobody spoke.
Adrian sat beside Emma.
Two siblings who had lost years they could never recover.
Finally, Adrian said:
"I’m sorry.""
Emma looked out the window.
"For what?""
"For not knowing.""
Her eyes softened.
"You were a child.""
"So were you.""
That answer surprised him.
Emma looked at him.
"We were both victims.""
For a moment, they looked less like strangers.
More like family.
When we arrived at the blue house, the front door was open.
Too open.
Adrian noticed.
"It's a trap.""
Emma nodded.
"But Lily is inside.""
We entered together.
The basement door was waiting.
Open.
At the bottom was Victoria.
She stood beside Lily.
The little girl was unharmed.
But terrified.
Victoria smiled.
"Look at this.""
She looked between Adrian and Emma.
"The perfect family reunion.""
Adrian stepped forward.
"Let her go.""
Victoria laughed.
"After everything I did for you?""
Emma's expression hardened.
"You destroyed my life.""
Victoria looked at her.
"I saved you.""
"No.""
Emma's voice shook.
"You controlled me.""
Victoria smiled.
"And you survived.""
The words were cruel because they were exactly what Victoria believed.
Adrian moved closer.
"You are done.""
Victoria tilted her head.
"Am I?""
She lifted a remote control.
Emma froze.
"What did you do?""
Victoria smiled.
"The facility.""
Everyone went still.
"What about it?""
"I planted evidence.""
Adrian frowned.
"Evidence of what?""
Victoria looked directly at Emma.
"That she was the mastermind.""
Emma's face went pale.
"What?""
Victoria pressed the button.
A phone began ringing.
Then another.
Then another.
Police sirens sounded outside.
Victoria smiled.
"They're coming.""
Adrian stared.
"You framed her.""
Victoria nodded.
"Everyone will believe it.""
Emma looked at the door.
"You planned this.""
Victoria stepped closer.
"Of course.""
Then she whispered:
"And there is one more thing.""
She looked at Adrian.
"Your father didn't die because of me.""
A pause.
"He died because of her.""
She pointed at Emma.
Everyone froze.
Emma's face lost all color.
"No.""
Victoria smiled.
"Tell him.""
Adrian turned toward Emma.
"Emma?""
She couldn't speak.
And that was when I knew.
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Whatever truth came next...
It would destroy them both.
