Chapter 118

Victoria's POV

I watched from my car as the procession of vehicles pulled into Highland Estate. So, the bitch was back. My initial satisfaction at seeing Elena captured quickly soured.

My operative confirmed that Elena had been taken without incident. At least she hadn't made it to Elysium to investigate that man or the book. That was something.

I ordered my subordinates to continue surveillance of the estate, needing to know what was happening inside those walls. An hour later, the report came in: no screaming, no violence. Just a family reunion.

Unease crept through me. Why wasn't Richard worried about Elena revealing his secret?

I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. Everything I'd worked for was at risk. Jealousy made me even more furious.

I picked up the phone and dialed the number.

"Emily, our plan didn't work," I said, pacing across the room, my heels clicking against the hardwood floor. My hands couldn't stop shaking, and I hated myself for it.

Emily's face twisted with rage. "You still want it to succeed? Are you fucking insane? We should be grateful Kelly hasn't ratted us out yet!"

"Keep your voice down," I hissed.

"Or what?" She stood up, getting in my face. "Listen to me carefully, Victoria. If you don't back off now, we're both dead. Do you understand?"

I stepped back, the reality of our situation sinking in. We were truly at the edge of danger. After the incident at the birthday celebration, Richard had actually cut off all investments to the Cooper family and expelled all members from the pack. We only survived because Emily had moved with lightning speed to placate Kelly, promising to help restore their status later if they kept quiet about our involvement.

"Richard suspects nothing about us," I said, trying to sound confident.

Emily laughed bitterly. "You're delusional. That man suspects everyone."

I ignored her, walking to my laptop. I kept reviewing the contents of the book. The book clearly mentioned personality dissociation.

"This is our leverage," I whispered, a satisfied smile curving my lips.

Elena's POV

I woke to sunlight flooding my bedroom, feeling more rested than I had in weeks. For once, I'd slept deeply, the weight of constant fear finally lifted from my chest after last night's revelations.

As my eyes adjusted to the light, I noticed movement in the corner of the room. Kathy and Lily were sitting on the floor by the window, whispering to each other as they played with dolls.

"Good morning, my darlings," I said softly.

Lily's head whipped around, her face breaking into a radiant smile. "Mommy! You're finally awake!" She bounded across the room and launched herself onto the bed. "We've been waiting forever!"

I laughed, burying my nose in her hair and breathing in her sweet scent. Nothing in the world smelled better than my children.

"Have you had breakfast yet?" I asked.

"Anna made special pancakes with blueberry faces," Lily announced. "And guess what? Grandpa is here! With that nasty woman."

My body tensed. "Grandpa? Victoria?"

Kathy nodded. "Mommy, you don't have to go downstairs. We can bring food up to you instead."

I looked at Kathy, touched by her protective behavior.

"That's very thoughtful," I said softly. "But I think I should go down."

I asked the girls to step out while I got ready. After a quick shower, I stood before the mirror, studying my reflection. The woman looking back at me wasn't the same one who had fled in terror just days ago. I chose a simple but elegant blue dress, applied light makeup, and let my hair fall naturally over my shoulders.

When I emerged, Lily was waiting alone in the hallway.

"Where's Kathy?" I asked.

"She went to get Max," Lily answered, slipping her small hand into mine. "Mommy, you look pretty."

I smiled, squeezing her hand. "Thank you, sweetheart."

"Do we really have to go downstairs?" Lily whispered, her eyes filled with worry.

I knelt down to her level. "Are you scared, baby?"

She nodded slightly. "That bad woman... she's not nice."

I brushed my fingers through her soft hair. "I'll protect you. Always. You know that, right?"

Lily nodded more confidently, and together we headed for the stairs.

When we reached the bottom of the stairs, Victoria was the first person I saw. The sight was so bizarre I almost laughed out loud.

She wore a checkered apron over her dress, her usually perfect hair casually pinned up. She was arranging flowers on the dining table with the focused attention of someone performing in a play.

"Elena! You finally came down," she called cheerfully. "Breakfast is all ready!"

Her scent hit me immediately - a mixture of expensive perfume and something acrid. She was deliberately suppressing her expression, trying to appear harmless.

I raised an eyebrow but said nothing, guiding Lily past her with a subtle shift of my body as a barrier between them.

"Anna," I called, completely ignoring Victoria, "is breakfast ready for the children?"

"Yes, Ms. Winter," Anna replied promptly, not bothering to hide her smirk at Victoria's obvious displeasure at being snubbed. "I've prepared waffles, egg tarts, and milk for the children."

"Thank you," I said warmly, heading toward the kitchen with Lily still clinging to my hand.

I could feel Victoria's eyes boring into my back, and for a split second, her mask of domestic bliss slipped. Her face contorted with hatred before she smoothed it away, but not before I caught the flash of anger in her eyes.

She's been playing house while I was gone.

The thought made my skin crawl.

---

In the kitchen, Anna leaned close as she handed me a cup of coffee.

"Mr. Richard Blackwood doesn't know they're here," she whispered. "Mr. Gerald Blackwood brought Ms. Chase this morning to see the children."

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. "It's fine. It's not my place to decide who visits Highland Estate."

Anna reassured me. "They won't stay long. He just wanted to check on the children."

"It's alright, Anna. I'll take the children to the garden for breakfast. We'll be fine."

I gathered plates for Lily and myself, along with some fresh fruit, and headed toward the doors leading to the patio. I couldn't help the bitter thought: Why am I even still here? Victoria has clearly made herself the mistress of this place.