Chapter 10 - THE BABY HE ALREADY KNEW ABOUT
Victor recovered quickly.
“Your attorney filed a sealed birth notice.”
Owen frowned.
“No, I didn’t.”
Victor looked at him.
The room went still.
Elena stepped closer.
“Who told you?”
Victor said nothing.
Serena whispered:
“Victor.”
He turned on her.
“Not now.”
Elena continued.
“The public record lists no child. The clinic is private. Mara told no one.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“You think you’re the only person who can investigate?”
That was plausible.
He had money.
Private security.
Contacts.
Then Owen asked:
“When did you learn?”
Victor did not answer.
Elena held up the black button.
“This came off your coat.”
Victor laughed once.
“Yes.”
“You admit it?”
“You were hanging from my arm.”
The room murmured.
Victor stepped closer.
“I tried to save you.”
Elena’s stomach turned.
There it was.
The exact story.
He continued.
“You grabbed me. My button tore. I lost my grip.”
His eyes filled.
Actually filled.
Maybe anger.
Maybe performance.
Maybe both.
“You fell.”
Elena said:
“You tore your arm away.”
“That is not true.”
No proof.
Again.
The button proved contact.
Not intent.
Victor looked at the guests.
“She disappears for three months, returns with hidden cameras, manipulates my girlfriend, and expects one coat button to prove attempted murder?”
For a moment, Elena hated how good he was.
Then Serena spoke.
“She didn’t manipulate me.”
Victor turned.
Serena’s hand trembled.
She held the handwritten page from his desk.
“What is this?”
Victor’s face changed.
She read aloud:
“Useful through transition. Limit equity exposure.”
Guests looked between them.
Serena continued.
“That’s me.”
Victor lowered his voice.
“Serena, give me the paper.”
“No.”
“Now.”
“No.”
Then Elena saw Serena’s other hand.
Her phone.
Recording.
May you like
Victor saw it too.
And his control finally cracked.
