Chapter 2: The Locked Study

Chapter 2: The Locked Study

Victoria sprinted toward my private study.

I handed Lily gently to our housekeeper, Maria, who had appeared in the hallway with both hands over her mouth.

“Call an ambulance,” I ordered. “And don’t let anyone leave.”

Then I ran after Victoria.

She reached the study first and slammed the door.

The lock clicked.

“Victoria!” I struck the door with my palm. “Open it.”

Inside, I heard drawers opening.

Paper tearing.

Then the metallic sound of my safe.

Only three people knew the safe code.

Myself.

Lily.

And Victoria.

I stepped back and drove my shoulder into the door. It held.

From behind me, Maria spoke shakily.

“There’s another key.”

“Where?”

“Kitchen cabinet. Top drawer.”

Before she could move, the study door opened.

Victoria stood there holding Lily’s phone.

The screen had been smashed.

“There,” she said, tossing it at my feet. “You wanted the phone.”

Smoke curled from the trash can behind her.

She had been burning documents.

I pushed past her and stamped out the flames.

Inside the bin were pieces of bank statements, legal forms, and a partially burned envelope bearing my company’s name.

Victoria grabbed my arm.

“You’re overreacting.”

I turned so sharply she released me.

“My daughter was kneeling on sharp shells while you stood over her with a belt.”

“She needed discipline!”

“She needed protection.”

Victoria’s face twisted.

“You always take her side. Always. Even when she disrespects me.”

“She is my child.”

“And I’m your wife!”

“For the moment.”

That sentence finally broke her confidence.

She stared at me.

“You wouldn’t throw away our marriage over one misunderstanding.”

I reached into the trash and pulled out a blackened document.

Most of it was unreadable, but one line remained.

TRANSFER OF GUARDIANSHIP AUTHORITY.

Lily’s name appeared beneath it.

My stomach turned cold.

“What is this?”

Victoria glanced toward the door.

“It’s not what you think.”

“Then explain it.”

She said nothing.

Paramedics entered the penthouse moments later. As they treated Lily, a police officer asked Victoria to remain in the living room.

She suddenly pointed at Maria.

“She helped Lily set me up.”

Maria stepped back in shock.

“What?”

Victoria turned to the officer.

“That woman hates me. She planted the belt. She scattered the shells.”

Maria began crying.

“I would never hurt Miss Lily.”

The officer looked between them.

Then Lily spoke from the stretcher.

“Check the kitchen camera.”

Victoria’s head snapped toward her.

“There isn’t a kitchen camera.”

Lily looked directly at her stepmother.

“Yes, there is.”

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Victoria’s face changed.

Because for the first time, she understood that Lily had hidden evidence somewhere Victoria had never found.