Chapter 1 - THE MAN IN THE SHADOWS
Victor Blackwood had heard every word.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Serena’s heel was still pressed against Lily’s stomach.
Lily was still struggling to crawl toward Ethan.
And the fourteen-month-old boy lay whimpering on the marble floor with one arm twisted against his tiny body.
Then Victor stepped fully into the light.
His black suit was damp from the Chicago rain.
His expression was unreadable.
That frightened Serena more than rage would have.
“Victor.”
Her voice cracked.
She immediately lifted her foot from Lily.
“I can explain.”
Victor did not look at her.
His eyes went directly to Ethan.
The little boy made a weak sound.
That sound changed something in Victor’s face.
He crossed the foyer in three long strides and dropped to his knees beside his son.
“Ethan.”
The baby tried to reach for him with his uninjured hand.
“Daddy.”
It was barely a whisper.
Victor’s jaw tightened.
He carefully lifted Ethan without touching the injured arm.
“Call Dr. Moretti.”
Three guards appeared from the hallway.
“Now.”
One of them immediately reached for his phone.
Serena stepped forward.
“Victor, please listen to me.”
He finally looked at her.
“Don’t move.”
Two words.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Terrifying.
Serena stopped.
Victor carried Ethan toward the sitting room.
Lily tried to stand.
Her knees buckled.
A guard named Cole caught her before she hit the floor.
“Easy.”
“I’m fine.”
Lily pushed against him.
“Please help Ethan.”
Victor heard her.
For the first time, his eyes moved toward Lily.
He saw the red mark across her stomach.
He saw the blood on one knee.
He saw the fear in her face.
But he also saw something else.
She was not afraid for herself.
She was watching Ethan.
Only Ethan.
Serena noticed Victor noticing.
And panic flashed through her eyes.
“You don’t understand what happened.”
Victor turned.
“Then explain.”
Serena swallowed.
“That woman attacked me.”
Lily stared at her.
“What?”
“She lost control.”
Serena pointed toward Lily.
“I caught her handling Ethan roughly.”
“That’s a lie.”
Lily’s voice shook.
Serena ignored her.
“I tried to stop her.”
“She became violent.”
“She threw herself at me.”
“And during the struggle, Ethan fell.”
Victor said nothing.
Serena stepped closer.
“She’s obsessed with him.”
“She acts like she’s his mother.”
“I’ve been worried about her for weeks.”
Lily could barely believe what she was hearing.
“You dragged him across the floor.”
Serena snapped toward her.
“Shut up.”
Victor’s voice cut through the room.
“Serena.”
She froze again.
He looked toward Cole.
“Separate them.”
Cole guided Lily toward the library.
Another guard remained with Serena.
Within minutes, Dr. Moretti arrived.
He examined Ethan while Victor stood beside the couch.
The doctor’s expression became serious.
“His shoulder may be dislocated.”
Victor’s hands slowly curled into fists.
“And his breathing?”
“Stress response.”
“He needs imaging immediately.”
Victor nodded.
“Prepare the car.”
Serena rushed forward.
“I’m coming.”
Victor turned toward her.
“No.”
Her face fell.
“I’m practically his mother.”
Victor stared at her for a long moment.
“No.”
This time, the word sounded different.
Final.
Victor carried Ethan toward the front doors.
Then the baby stirred against his chest.
His tiny fingers pointed weakly toward the hallway.
“Li… Lily.”
Victor stopped.
Everyone heard it.
Ethan began crying again.
“Lily.”
Serena’s face hardened.
Victor looked toward Cole.
“Bring her.”
Minutes later, Lily climbed into the armored SUV beside Ethan.
She kept one hand near his leg without touching his injured shoulder.
Victor sat across from her.
Neither spoke.
Ethan’s cries slowly weakened.
Then his fingers closed around Lily’s hand.
He refused to let go.
Victor watched.
Lily looked down.
“I’m sorry.”
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
“For what?”
“I should have stopped her sooner.”
His voice became colder.
“Sooner?”
Lily realized her mistake.
Victor leaned forward.
“This wasn’t the first time?”
Lily went silent.
And for the first time that night, Victor Blackwood looked genuinely afraid.
“What else has Serena done to my son?”
Lily lifted her eyes.
“There are things you don’t know.”
The SUV accelerated into the rain.
And back at Blackwood Mansion, Serena quietly slipped a phone from her dress.
She typed one message.
HE CAME HOME EARLY.
May you like
A reply appeared almost immediately.
THEN GET RID OF THE NANNY BEFORE SHE TALKS.
