Chapter 10 - THE FORCED CEREMONY
Victor entered the lake estate alone.
At least, that was what Serena believed.
Marcus and his men moved through the forest behind the property.
Lily and Isabella waited inside a maintenance tunnel beneath the east wing.
Victor followed the sound of Ethan crying.
He reached the old chapel.
Serena stood beside the altar in a white dress.
Jonathan Crane held Ethan near the front row.
A man with a gun stood behind him.
Serena smiled.
“You came.”
“Give me my son.”
“After the ceremony.”
Victor looked around.
“You think a forced marriage will survive court?”
“It does not need to survive long.”
She pointed toward documents on the altar.
“You will sign these first.”
Victor walked forward.
Crane handed him a pen.
Victor read the first page.
It transferred control of several Blackwood companies to Serena.
The second granted her guardianship rights over Ethan.
The third authorized Crane to manage the trust.
Victor looked at Crane.
“Fifteen years.”
Crane avoided his eyes.
“I was tired of being treated like an employee.”
“You were an employee.”
Crane’s face twisted.
“I protected your empire.”
“You signed papers.”
“I kept you out of prison.”
Serena interrupted.
“Sign.”
Victor looked at Ethan.
The child reached toward him.
“Dada.”
Victor signed the first document.
In the tunnel below, Isabella listened through his hidden microphone.
“He is buying time.”
Lily studied an old blueprint.
“There is a staircase behind the chapel wall.”
“We can reach the nursery from there.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Too risky.”
Lily looked at him.
“Ethan is the reason we are here.”
Before Marcus could stop her, she entered the narrow passage.
Back in the chapel, Victor signed the second document.
Serena relaxed.
Then a scream echoed from the upper floor.
One of Serena’s guards ran into the hallway.
Lily had triggered a fire alarm.
Sprinklers burst to life.
The lights flickered.
Victor threw the pen into Crane’s face.
He lunged toward Ethan.
A gunshot thundered through the chapel.
The armed man fell backward.
Marcus stood in the doorway.
Serena grabbed Ethan first.
She held the child against her chest and pressed a small blade near his blanket.
“Stay back.”
Victor froze.
Serena moved toward the rear exit.
“You ruined everything.”
Lily appeared behind her.
“No.”
“You did.”
Serena turned sharply.
That single movement gave Victor the chance he needed.
He took Ethan from her arms.
Marcus seized Serena.
Crane ran through the side door.
Isabella followed him into the storm.
But when she reached the lake, Crane was gone.
Only his coat remained on the dock.
Inside the pocket was a photograph.
It showed Victor’s late father shaking hands with Serena’s father.
May you like
On the back were five handwritten words.
They built the empire together.
