Chapter 14 - VICTORIA’S LAST CHOICE
Vale returned to Manhattan before they did.
Victoria was still in the hospital.
Noah was under guard.
Or should have been.
When Julian called, nobody answered.
His stomach sank.
“He went for Noah.”
They raced back.
At the hospital, two guards lay unconscious.
Victoria’s room was empty.
A nurse ran toward them.
“Mr. Sterling!”
“Where’s my son?”
“A man claiming to be his grandfather took him.”
Julian cursed.
Claire, barely able to stand, grabbed his arm.
“Think.”
He looked at her.
“Richard doesn’t run randomly.”
Victoria’s voice came from behind them.
“I know where he went.”
Everyone turned.
She stood at the end of the corridor wearing hospital scrubs beneath a coat.
Blood seeped through her bandage.
Julian stared.
“You should be in bed.”
“I should have done a lot of things.”
“Where is he?”
Victoria swallowed.
“The Sterling Tower rooftop.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s where you proposed to me.”
Julian’s face tightened.
Victoria gave a sad smile.
“My father believes symbols matter.”
They reached the tower.
Police surrounded the building.
Vale stood on the roof with Noah.
A gun pressed against the boy’s side.
Wind tore at his coat.
“Dad!” Noah cried.
Julian stepped onto the roof.
“I’m here.”
Vale smiled.
“You brought everyone.”
Claire stood near the doorway with Elena.
Vale stared at her as if seeing a ghost.
“You should be dead.”
Claire looked at him.
“You tried.”
Victoria walked forward.
“Dad.”
“Stay back.”
“Let Noah go.”
“He’s all that’s left.”
“What does that mean?”
Vale’s eyes filled with desperation.
“Your family can still survive.”
Victoria laughed sadly.
“My family?”
“Yes.”
“You stole Leo.”
“To save you.”
“You imprisoned Claire.”
“To save you.”
“You tried to kill Anna.”
“To save you!”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
Vale’s face twisted.
“Everything I did was for you.”
“No. Everything you did was because you couldn’t stand losing control.”
He tightened his grip on Noah.
Victoria moved closer.
“Dad, look at me.”
He did.
“I was jealous of Claire.”
Julian glanced at her.
“I deleted her message. I followed her. I hated her.”
Tears rolled down Victoria’s face.
“But I never wanted her dead.”
Claire stared at her.
Victoria continued.
“I lied to Julian. I lied to my sons. I let you turn fear into a cage.”
She took another step.
“But this ends now.”
Vale raised the gun.
“Victoria.”
“Give me Noah.”
“No.”
“Then take me.”
Julian said, “Victoria, don’t.”
She ignored him.
“Dad, I’m the scandal you were protecting.”
Vale stared.
“I’m the weak daughter. The jealous wife. The woman who couldn’t face the truth.”
She opened her arms.
“So take me.”
Noah cried.
“Mommy.”
Victoria smiled at him.
For once, it was gentle.
Real.
Vale’s hand shook.
That was the moment.
Noah bit him.
Vale yelled.
Victoria lunged.
The gun fired.
Julian tackled Vale.
Police rushed in.
Vale hit the ground.
Victoria fell beside Noah.
Blood spread across her chest.
Julian crawled toward her.
“No.”
She looked at him.
“Is Noah okay?”
“Yes.”
“Leo?”
“Yes.”
“Lily?”
“Yes.”
Victoria smiled weakly.
“Good.”
Julian pressed his hand against her wound.
“Stay with me.”
She looked toward Claire.
“I’m sorry.”
Claire said nothing for a moment.
Then she walked closer.
“I know.”
Victoria began crying.
“I stole your son.”
“My son survived.”
“I stole years.”
“Yes.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“I don’t deserve forgiveness.”
Claire crouched beside her.
“No.”
Victoria looked up.
Claire took her hand.
“But Noah deserves to know his mother did one brave thing.”
Victoria looked at her son.
May you like
Then the paramedics rushed forward.
And as they lifted Victoria onto the stretcher, the monitor suddenly went flat.
