Chapter 11 - The Woman Who Had Nothing Left To Lose
The basement door broke open.
Everyone expected Adrian.
But it wasn’t him.
It was someone else.
A man wearing an expensive gray suit.
Calm.
Clean.
Confident.
The kind of person nobody would suspect.
Victoria stared.
Because she knew him.
Everyone knew him.
Alexander Harrington.
The chairman of the Harrington Foundation.
The man who appeared on television helping charities.
The man praised by millions.
The man Victoria had trusted her entire life.
Her uncle.
“Uncle Alexander…”
He smiled.
“Victoria.”
Maya moved closer to her.
“What are you doing here?”
Alexander looked at Maya.
“Taking back what belongs to my family.”
Victoria’s face changed.
“What are you talking about?”
Alexander walked slowly into the basement.
“Your father never told you everything, did he?”
Victoria said nothing.
“He trusted you too much.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“Careful.”
Alexander laughed.
“Still protecting her?”
He looked at Victoria.
“You really are like Isabella.”
Victoria felt anger rising.
“Don’t say her name.”
Alexander smiled.
“Why?”
“Because you don’t deserve to.”
The room became silent.
For the first time…
Alexander’s expression changed.
Victoria remembered something.
Ten years ago.
The night Isabella disappeared.
Alexander had been there.
He had comforted Victoria.
He had told her:
“Some people are not meant to be saved.”
At the time, Victoria thought he meant Isabella was gone.
Now she understood.
He knew.
He always knew.
“You knew she was alive.”
Alexander didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Victoria stepped closer.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled with anger.
“And you let me believe my best friend was dead?”
Alexander shrugged.
“It was necessary.”
“Necessary?”
Victoria almost laughed.
“You destroyed her life.”
“No.”
He looked at Maya.
“She destroyed mine.”
Alexander explained.
Years ago, Isabella discovered documents hidden inside the Harrington company.
Documents proving years of corruption.
She planned to expose everyone.
Including Alexander.
“But she made one mistake.”
Victoria stared.
“What?”
“She trusted you.”
Victoria froze.
Alexander smiled.
“She knew you were emotional.”
“She knew you cared too much.”
“And she knew eventually you would find Maya.”
Victoria stepped back.
The truth hurt.
Because Alexander was right about one thing.
Isabella had trusted her.
Then Alexander reached out his hand.
“Give me the necklace.”
Maya immediately held it.
“No.”
Alexander sighed.
“Maya.”
The girl looked scared.
But she didn’t move.
Victoria stepped between them.
“You’re not touching her.”
Alexander looked at Victoria.
“You still think you can stop me?”
Victoria smiled.
A cold smile.
“Yes.”
He laughed.
“With what?”
Victoria looked at Daniel.
Daniel opened his phone.
“We have been recording everything.”
Alexander’s smile disappeared.
Victoria continued:
“You just admitted everything.”
For the first time…
Alexander looked worried.
But then…
He smiled again.
“You really think I came here without a plan?”
Suddenly every phone in the room lost signal.
The lights turned off.
And Daniel’s phone screen went black.
Alexander whispered:
“You always were too trusting.”
Then Victoria heard Maya scream.
She turned.
May you like
And her heart stopped.
Because Maya was gone.
