CHAPTER 2: THE SECRET BEHIND VICTORIA’S SMILE
The silence after Marcus slapped Victoria felt heavier than the marble walls surrounding them.
No one moved.
No one dared to speak.
The crystal chandelier above them continued shining like nothing had happened, but inside the Vance estate, everything had changed.
Elena stood frozen near the wall, holding Leo close.
She had expected anger.
She had expected Marcus to question her.
She had expected Victoria to twist the story until everyone believed she was the victim.
But she never expected Marcus to know the truth.
Victoria slowly lowered her hand from her cheek.
Her eyes were no longer filled with rage.
They were filled with calculation.
A dangerous kind of calm.
“You embarrassed me,” she whispered.
Marcus stared at her.
“No, Victoria. You embarrassed yourself.”
Her lips parted slightly.
For years, people had been afraid of Victoria Vance.
Employees lowered their voices around her.
Business partners carefully chose their words.
Family members avoided confrontation.
She had built an entire world where nobody challenged her.
Except Marcus.
And now Elena.
The two people she least expected.
Victoria looked at Elena.
“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?”
Elena frowned.
“What?”
“You wanted to turn my husband against me.”
Elena shook her head.
“No. I wanted Leo to be safe.”
Victoria laughed softly.
“Safe?”
She stepped closer.
“You think you know everything because you spend time with my son?”
Elena held Leo tighter.
“I know when a child is afraid.”
That answer made Victoria’s expression darken.
Marcus noticed.
He always noticed.
“Victoria, enough.”
She turned toward him.
“Enough?”
Her voice rose.
“You walk in here, believe a stranger over your own wife, and then you humiliate me in front of the staff?”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“You tried to hurt Elena.”
“I never touched her.”
Marcus looked at the wall behind Elena.
The place where she had fallen.
“You don’t need to hit someone to hurt them.”
Victoria looked away.
For a moment, something almost like guilt appeared.
But it disappeared quickly.
Instead, she crossed her arms.
“You have no idea what’s happening in this house.”
Marcus studied her.
“What does that mean?”
Victoria smiled.
A small, confident smile.
The kind that warned people she believed she still had power.
“It means you should be asking questions.”
Elena felt a chill.
“What questions?”
Victoria ignored her.
She walked toward the staircase.
“Ask yourself why your perfect little nanny is always around Leo.”
Marcus’s expression hardened.
“Be careful.”
“No.”
Victoria stopped halfway up the stairs.
“I think it’s time everyone knows the truth.”
The entire hallway became tense.
Elena looked at Marcus.
He noticed the fear in her eyes.
“Victoria,” Marcus said slowly, “what are you talking about?”
Victoria turned around.
Her voice became softer.
Almost innocent.
“I’m talking about the woman you trust so much.”
She pointed at Elena.
“She’s not who you think she is.”
Elena’s face changed.
“What are you saying?”
Victoria smiled.
“I’m saying you should check her background.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“I already did.”
“Did you?”
Victoria tilted her head.
“Are you sure?”
Those words stayed in the air.
Marcus had investigated Elena before hiring her.
Her references.
Her employment history.
Her qualifications.
Everything had been clean.
But Victoria’s confidence bothered him.
Because Victoria was many things.
Cruel.
Manipulative.
Controlling.
But she was rarely careless.
Marcus turned toward Elena.
“Elena?”
She looked at him immediately.
“I have nothing to hide.”
Victoria laughed.
“Everyone says that.”
Leo suddenly began crying again.
Elena immediately focused on him.
She gently rocked him.
“Shh… it’s okay.”
Marcus watched the scene carefully.
He saw the difference.
Victoria had spent the last ten minutes fighting for control.
Elena had spent the last ten minutes protecting a frightened child.
That difference mattered.
But then Victoria spoke again.
“There’s something else.”
Marcus looked back at her.
“What?”
Victoria reached into her expensive handbag.
She pulled out a small envelope.
Elena’s heart stopped.
She didn’t know why.
But something about that envelope felt wrong.
Victoria walked down the stairs slowly.
Each step echoed.
“I found this today.”
She held the envelope between two fingers.
“And after you open it, Marcus…”
She smiled.
“You might see Elena very differently.”
Marcus took the envelope.
He looked at the name written across the front.
Then his expression changed.
Because the name on the envelope wasn’t Elena’s.
It was his.
The room fell silent.
Victoria watched his face carefully.
And Elena realized something terrifying.
This was not about the argument in the hallway.
This had been planned.
Victoria had come prepared.
She hadn’t walked into that hallway because she lost control.
She had walked there because she wanted something.
May you like
And now Marcus was holding the weapon she had been waiting to use.
TO BE CONTINUED...
