Chapter 10 - MIDNIGHT IN THE CHAPEL
Adrian did not go alone.
He told police.
He told Isabella.
And he placed a recorder beneath his shirt.
At midnight, Isabella entered the chapel.
Victoria stood at the altar where her daughter should have married Adrian twelve hours earlier.
“You look terrible.”
Isabella almost laughed.
“You shot me.”
“I did no such thing.”
“You sent Victor.”
“Victor was incompetent.”
“Just like everyone else.”
Isabella walked closer.
“Why did you kill Sofia?”
Victoria’s face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“She was unstable.”
“You pushed her.”
“She was taking you away.”
“She was my mother.”
“I raised you.”
“You controlled me.”
“I saved you.”
“You murdered Thomas.”
Victoria smiled.
“Thomas was going to destroy everything.”
“So you cut his brake line?”
“No.”
Isabella froze.
Victoria tilted her head.
“Victor cut his brake line.”
“I merely paid him.”
The confession went directly to the police recorder.
“Then you fabricated the video showing Adrian hitting Thomas.”
“Insurance.”
“And Gabriel?”
Victoria's expression hardened.
“He complicated things.”
“He was a baby.”
“He was Thomas Whitmore’s heir.”
“He was my son.”
“You were twenty-two.”
“You would have had other children.”
Isabella’s eyes filled with tears.
“You really ordered them to drown him.”
Victoria looked bored.
“I solved a problem.”
Something moved behind the chapel.
Police.
Victoria heard it.
Her face changed.
“You recorded me.”
Isabella stepped back.
Victoria pulled a gun.
“Of course you did.”
Police shouted.
“DROP THE WEAPON!”
Victoria grabbed Isabella.
The gun pressed against her neck.
Adrian emerged.
“Victoria.”
She dragged Isabella toward a side door.
“Stay back.”
“You’re finished.”
“I am never finished.”
Then another voice spoke.
“Let her go.”
Mateo stood in the doorway.
Everyone froze.
Elena appeared behind him.
She grabbed his shoulder.
But Victoria had already seen him.
The boy stared at her.
“You wanted me dead.”
Victoria smiled coldly.
“Yes.”
Isabella closed her eyes.
Mateo did not cry.
“Why?”
“Because your existence destroyed everything.”
Mateo shook his head.
“No.”
Victoria frowned.
“You destroyed everything.”
The words landed harder than anyone expected.
Victoria turned the gun toward him.
Isabella reacted instantly.
She slammed her elbow backward.
The weapon fired into the ceiling.
Adrian rushed forward.
Police surrounded Victoria.
She was forced to the floor.
Handcuffs snapped around her wrists.
For thirty years, Victoria Laurent had controlled everyone around her.
Now she was lying facedown beneath the altar.
Mateo watched silently.
As police lifted Victoria, she looked at Isabella.
“You think this is over?”
Isabella said nothing.
Victoria smiled.
“You still don’t know what Elena did.”
Mateo turned toward Elena.
May you like
Victoria laughed as police dragged her away.
And once again, one secret died only for another to take its place.
