Chapter 12 - THE FINAL HUNT
Victoria had never intended to reach prison.
A police transport vehicle had been ambushed twenty kilometers outside Seville.
One officer was injured.
Victoria vanished.
But she had made a mistake.
She took a phone from one of the attackers.
Police traced it.
The signal appeared near the Laurent family vineyard.
Mateo was moved to a secure location.
Isabella refused to go.
“She’ll come here.”
Adrian agreed.
Victoria’s entire identity was tied to the estate.
She would not run without trying to reclaim something.
At sunset, Rosa discovered what.
“The original will.”
Victoria believed it was hidden beneath the vineyard chapel.
Rosa had moved it years earlier.
But Victoria did not know that.
Police surrounded the vineyard.
Hours passed.
Nothing.
Then Isabella saw movement between the vines.
Victoria.
She was alone.
Isabella followed before Adrian could stop her.
“Isabella!”
She disappeared into the darkness.
Victoria reached the old wine cellar.
Isabella entered behind her.
“Looking for this?”
She held up the original will.
Victoria stopped.
“You stupid girl.”
“No.”
“Just finally tired of being afraid.”
Victoria raised a pistol.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“I raised you.”
“You murdered my mother.”
“I gave you a life.”
“You tried to murder my son.”
“I gave you everything.”
“You gave me fear.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“And fear kept you obedient.”
Isabella tore the will in half.
Victoria screamed.
She lunged.
Isabella threw the pieces into a wine barrel.
Victoria grabbed her throat.
“You idiot!”
Isabella smiled despite the pressure.
“It was a copy.”
Victoria froze.
Adrian entered behind them.
“So was the one in Rosa’s room.”
Police flooded the cellar.
Victoria turned.
No exit.
No leverage.
No one left to intimidate.
Her gun dropped.
For the first time in her life, Victoria Laurent surrendered.
As police took her away, Isabella watched without speaking.
Victoria stopped beside her.
“You’ll come crawling back.”
Isabella shook her head.
“No.”
“You need me.”
“I never did.”
Victoria smiled.
“Gabriel will hate you.”
Isabella looked directly at her.
“Maybe.”
“But whether he forgives me belongs to him.”
“You don’t control that anymore.”
“And neither do I.”
Victoria’s smile finally disappeared.
May you like
She was taken away.
This time, she did not escape.
