Chapter 14 - THE LAST TRAITOR
Serena refused to say another word until she had an attorney.
Victor wanted answers immediately.
The federal investigators wanted the same thing.
Michael’s arrest uncovered years of financial crimes.
Bribery.
Fraud.
Extortion.
Daniel Hart’s disappearance.
The conspiracy involving Ethan.
But Serena’s final warning could not be ignored.
Someone else had ordered the kidnapping.
Cole reviewed every person with access to Ethan.
Staff.
Security.
Drivers.
Doctors.
Then Lily remembered something.
“The maintenance worker.”
Victor looked at her.
“What about him?”
“He knew exactly which IV line to reach for.”
“He knew Ethan’s room.”
“He knew his medical schedule.”
Victor’s face changed.
“Someone with medical access.”
They returned to the hospital records.
One name appeared repeatedly.
Dr. Stephen Moretti.
Victor’s family physician.
The man who had treated Ethan after Serena injured him.
The man Victor had trusted for twelve years.
Victor refused to believe it.
Then Cole found the payments.
Moretti had received money through a company linked to Michael.
Victor sat in silence.
Another trusted man.
Another betrayal inside his own walls.
They brought Moretti in for questioning.
He denied everything.
Until Lily entered the room.
She placed Ethan’s stolen medical folder on the table.
Police had recovered it from Michael’s warehouse.
Moretti stared at it.
Lily spoke quietly.
“Serena didn’t know which records mattered.”
“You did.”
Moretti’s face changed.
Victor leaned forward.
“Talk.”
Moretti broke.
Michael had approached him years earlier over gambling debts.
At first, Moretti only provided harmless information.
Then Michael demanded more.
Medical records.
Schedules.
Medication lists.
When Moretti tried to stop, Michael threatened his family.
Moretti had given him Ethan’s information.
He had also helped arrange access to the hospital.
But he insisted he had not ordered Ethan kidnapped.
Victor believed nothing anymore.
Then Moretti said one name.
“Adrian.”
Cole looked up.
Adrian Cross had survived the gunshot at the depot.
He was still in surgery.
Moretti explained.
Adrian had arranged the kidnapping without Michael’s permission.
Why?
Because Adrian had discovered Michael planned to eliminate everyone connected to the operation once Victor signed the transfer.
Adrian had intended to take Ethan and use him to bargain for protection.
But Michael intercepted the plan.
That was why Ethan had ended up at the depot.
Victor closed his eyes.
The conspiracy had collapsed because every person involved eventually betrayed the others.
Michael betrayed Serena.
Serena betrayed Michael.
Adrian betrayed them both.
Moretti betrayed Adrian.
Greed had eaten them from the inside.
Two weeks later, Serena agreed to testify.
She entered the interview room without designer clothes or perfect makeup.
Lily sat behind the observation glass.
Serena confessed to the conspiracy.
She admitted disabling cameras with Adrian’s help.
She admitted threatening Lily.
She admitted destroying Lily’s phone.
Then the investigator asked about Ethan’s injuries.
Serena went silent.
“Did Michael order you to hurt him?”
“No.”
“Did Adrian?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Serena looked down.
“Nobody.”
Her voice became small.
“I did it.”
Lily felt tears sting her eyes.
Not because she felt sorry for Serena.
Because Ethan had done nothing.
Serena continued.
“He kept reaching for Lily.”
“He cried whenever I held him.”
“I hated it.”
The investigator stared at her.
“So you punished a fourteen-month-old child?”
Serena closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
That confession ended the last lie.
Months later, Michael Blackwood faced charges for Daniel Hart’s death, kidnapping, conspiracy, fraud, and multiple other crimes.
Serena faced charges connected to Ethan’s abuse, kidnapping, conspiracy, and obstruction.
Moretti lost his medical license and faced criminal charges.
Adrian survived.
He also testified.
But one person had never asked for anything in exchange for what she had done.
May you like
Lily.
And Victor had not forgotten.
