CHAPTER 7: THE FILE THAT EXPOSED THE VANCE FAMILY
Elena stared at the computer screen.
The words burned brighter than the rest.
THE REAL REASON LEO WAS TAKEN.
For several seconds, she forgot to breathe.
She had spent months wondering what really happened that night.
Months carrying the blame.
Months hearing whispers from employees who believed she had failed the Vance family.
And now…
The answer was sitting in front of her.
But something about it felt wrong.
Too easy.
Too perfectly timed.
Someone wanted them to find this.
The question was why.
“Elena?”
Marcus’s voice came from behind her.
She turned quickly.
He had returned.
His expression was serious.
“What happened?”
She pointed at the monitor.
“I didn’t open this.”
Marcus stepped closer.
On the screen was a hidden video file.
No date.
No sender.
No information.
Only one sentence.
PLAY THIS IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH.
Marcus stared at it.
“Close the door.”
Elena looked confused.
“What?”
“Lock the room.”
The seriousness in his voice made her move immediately.
She closed the security room door.
Marcus sat down in front of the computer.
Victoria was still standing outside.
Knocking.
“Marcus, open this door.”
He ignored her.
“Play it.”
Elena hesitated.
“Are you sure?”
“No.”
Marcus looked at the screen.
“But I need to know.”
He clicked.
The video began.
At first, the screen was dark.
Then a familiar room appeared.
The Vance estate nursery.
Elena froze.
“That’s Leo’s room.”
Marcus nodded.
The recording continued.
The timestamp showed the night Leo disappeared.
11:39 PM.
A person entered the nursery.
The camera angle was different.
Hidden.
Not one of the normal security cameras.
Someone had secretly placed it there.
Marcus leaned closer.
“Someone installed another camera.”
Elena watched silently.
The person on the screen walked toward Leo’s bed.
But Leo wasn’t there.
The person looked around nervously.
Then another voice appeared.
A woman’s voice.
“Did you find him?”
Elena’s blood ran cold.
She knew that voice.
Marcus knew it too.
Because both of them looked at each other at the same time.
Victoria.
The video continued.
The hidden camera showed only part of the room.
The person standing there was unclear.
But the voice was unmistakable.
“You promised me this would be easy.”
Victoria sounded angry.
The other person replied:
“It was supposed to be. But the nanny changed everything.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
The nanny.
Her.
Marcus’s face became unreadable.
The video continued.
Victoria’s voice lowered.
“She cannot stay here.”
The other person answered:
“Then make Marcus believe she’s the problem.”
Elena covered her mouth.
Marcus slowly stood.
The room felt like it was spinning.
Victoria wasn’t just hiding something.
She had been planning something.
The video suddenly cut.
A new screen appeared.
FILE ENCRYPTED. ENTER PASSWORD.
Marcus stared.
“That’s it?”
Elena shook her head.
“No.”
She pointed.
“There’s another file.”
A second video appeared.
The title made Marcus’s expression change.
MERCER FAMILY AGREEMENT.
He clicked.
A document appeared.
At first, Marcus didn’t understand.
Then he saw the name.
Leo Alexander Vance.
His son.
The document was an old legal agreement.
And the information inside made his face lose all color.
Elena noticed.
“What is it?”
Marcus didn’t answer.
He kept reading.
Finally, he whispered:
“Victoria knew.”
“Knew what?”
Marcus looked at her.
“About Leo’s inheritance.”
Elena frowned.
“What about it?”
Marcus closed the file.
“Leo’s trust fund.”
His voice became colder.
“It was protected.”
Elena waited.
“Protected from who?”
Marcus looked toward the locked door.
Toward Victoria standing outside.
“From anyone who tried to control it.”
A chill went through Elena.
“Are you saying…”
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Someone wanted access to Leo’s money.”
The pieces began connecting.
The strange behavior.
The attempt to remove Elena.
The lies.
The hidden footage.
But there was one question they still couldn’t answer.
Who was helping Victoria?
Suddenly, the computer screen went black.
The entire security system shut down.
Elena jumped.
“What happened?”
Marcus checked the controls.
“Someone accessed the system.”
“From outside?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
His expression turned serious.
“From inside the house.”
At that exact moment…
The door handle began moving.
Someone was trying to open it.
Marcus stepped in front of Elena and Leo.
“Stay behind me.”
The handle stopped.
Silence.
Then a voice came from the other side.
A voice Marcus recognized immediately.
“Marcus…”
It was Victoria.
But something about her voice was different.
Not angry.
Not arrogant.
Terrified.
“Open the door.”
Marcus didn’t move.
“Why?”
A pause.
Then Victoria whispered:
“Because if you don’t…”
Her voice trembled.
“Leo is not the only person in this house who is in danger.”
Marcus looked at Elena.
And for the first time that night…
They realized something terrifying.
Victoria might not be the biggest threat.
May you like
She might be running from one.
TO BE CONTINUED...
