Chapter 14 - VICTORIA SAYS WHAT SHE ACTUALLY WANTED
Months later Victoria requested a private mediated meeting.
Marcus agreed.
Elena did not attend.
Good.
Victoria looked smaller without a mansion around her.
Still elegant.
Still sharp.
She asked:
“Do you think I wanted to hurt Leo?”
Marcus answered:
“You kicked the person carrying him.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
He paused.
“No. I don’t think you wanted him injured.”
Victoria’s eyes filled slightly.
Then:
“I wanted her gone.”
“I know.”
“I wanted you to stop looking at her like she knew how to be in our family better than I did.”
Marcus stared.
“And the campaign?”
“I wanted something that was mine.”
“Leo is not something.”
“I know that now.”
Marcus said nothing.
Victoria continued:
“I thought if people saw me as his mother enough times, I would start feeling like it.”
There.
No villain speech.
A confession of insecurity turned into control.
Marcus asked:
“Why didn’t you just tell me you felt excluded?”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“Because women like me don’t admit we’re begging to belong.”
Marcus almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
May you like
Then remembered Elena hitting the wall with Leo against her chest.
Belonging did not excuse harm.
