Chapter 7 - THE TRUTH BEHIND THE PERFECT FIANCÉE
Ethan Blackwood had spent his entire life believing one thing.
His family was untouchable.
Money could solve problems.
Power could silence enemies.
And the people closest to him would never betray him.
But that belief started collapsing the moment he looked into Victoria Sinclair’s eyes and wondered:
Who is the woman standing in front of me?
For the first time in years, Ethan didn’t feel love.
He felt doubt.
And doubt was something Victoria could not control.
“Ethan?”
Victoria stepped closer.
“You look upset.”
He forced a smile.
“I’m just tired.”
She studied him carefully.
Victoria was always watching.
Always calculating.
She noticed every pause.
Every change in his voice.
Every moment of weakness.
That was how she survived.
That was how she won.
“I think you need rest,” she said softly.
Ethan looked at the cup of coffee sitting on his desk.
The one she had brought him earlier.
Normally, he would have smiled.
Tonight, he didn’t touch it.
Victoria noticed.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
Across town, Elena sat inside Daniel Hayes’ old office, staring at the evidence they had recovered.
Her hands were wrapped around a cup of coffee she hadn’t touched.
Everything had changed.
Before yesterday, she was just a maid.
A single mother trying to pay bills.
Trying to protect her daughter.
Now she was holding evidence that could destroy one of the most powerful women in Boston.
Daniel placed a folder in front of her.
“There’s something else you need to know.”
Elena looked up.
“What?”
“Charles Blackwood didn’t trust anyone near the end.”
“Because of Victoria?”
Daniel nodded.
“He knew she was dangerous. But he also knew Ethan loved her.”
Elena looked down.
“So he couldn’t tell him.”
“Exactly.”
Daniel opened another file.
Inside was a photo.
A young Ethan.
A young Victoria.
Smiling together.
“They met eight years ago at a charity event.”
Elena stared.
“She planned this from the beginning.”
“Yes.”
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“Victoria didn’t fall in love with Ethan.”
“She targeted him.”
The words hurt because they explained everything.
The perfect timing.
The perfect romance.
The perfect woman.
All an act.
Then Daniel found something hidden in the documents.
A name.
“Wait.”
Elena looked over.
“What?”
Daniel pointed.
“Someone else was involved.”
She read the name.
Richard Sinclair.
Victoria’s father.
Elena frowned.
“Her father?”
Daniel nodded.
“Richard Sinclair was the one who introduced Victoria to powerful families. He taught her how to manipulate people.”
Elena looked at the evidence.
“How far does this go?”
Daniel didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said:
“Farther than you think.”
That evening, Ethan secretly searched through old family records.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the phone call.
Your father was murdered.
The words repeated in his head.
He opened his father’s old files.
Most were normal.
Business documents.
Contracts.
Tax records.
Then he found something strange.
A hidden folder.
Created one week before Charles died.
The folder had one password.
VICTORIA.
Ethan froze.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Then he opened it.
Inside was a single video.
His father appeared.
Older.
Weak.
But completely aware.
“Ethan,” Charles said.
“If you are watching this, I failed.”
Ethan stopped breathing.
His father continued.
“I tried to protect you from someone who knew exactly how to make you trust her.”
A pause.
Then Charles said the name.
“Victoria Sinclair.”
Ethan’s face changed.
The video continued.
“She will tell you I was sick. Confused. Losing my mind.”
Charles looked directly into the camera.
“That is a lie.”
The screen suddenly froze.
A message appeared.
FILE CORRUPTED.
Ethan stared.
May you like
Only one question remained.
What else had Victoria deleted?
