Chapter 66 Evidence
VICTORIA'S POV
Victoria tiptoed to the study, looking backwards, conscious of her environment.
A door squeaked open, making her stop in her tracks.
Damien and her father came out, whispering in low tones, that Victoria could barely make out what they were saying, but she strained her ears nevertheless.
“I trust that you'll put a lid on this before it goes out.”
That was Damien.
Isabella tried to still her beating heart. She needed to be careful or else they would smell her presence.
“I will. You need to act fast. They've asked for more time. They're obviously planning something.”’
Victoria needed no soothsayer to tell her that the person in question was Isabella and the king. Her father had just spoken.
She imagined Damien scoffing with an arrogant look on his face. She was proved right almost immediately.
“They won't. And even if they do, it would already be too late.” Damien said, scoffing. “No one can stop me.”
Victoria gulped. Damien had always been an arrogant bastard, but his level of confidence on this was insane.
He was talking like he was so sure that nothing could stop him.
Both men had stopped walking and were standing by the door. Victoria cursed under her breath. Something was pricking her under her feet and it was only a matter of time before she made a noise that would blow her cover.
“I should see you at the next meeting,” Damien muttered as he shook hands with Harlan, walking away.
He passed by the door just behind Victoria stopping abruptly as though he had sensed someone.
“Oh, and Victoria.”
Victoria inhaled, horror on her face.
“Be careful with her. I know she's your daughter, but I would not hesitate to kill her if she blows this for us. Keep her in check.”
She gulped as he walked out, leaving her all alone in the hallway with Harlan.
“You heard him. You should stop hiding. He won't hesitate to kill you and neither will I. I would rather be childless than to be humiliated.”
Harlan said as he walked out.
Victoria exhaled, stepping out the moment she sensed he was gone. He'd seen her.
“Well, in my defense I wasn't doing anything bad. I just did not want to see him.” She yelled after him.
She sighed as she paced. Harlan had figured her out. She needed to look for another plan. One more viable option, and she needed to act fast.
Her father already figured out the reason for her visit.
She craned her neck to the hallway and made her way back to the study. Now that she was alone, she needed to act fast.
Harlan would have expected her to return back to her room, her head bowed in shame, having been caught in the act, but she was going to do no such thing.
Instead, she opened the door silently, as her eyes roamed the entire study.
Whatever she was looking for, would not be hidden.
She walked slowly to the desk, carrful to not to tip off the silent alarms in the office as she tugged at the drawers.
Nothing. They were locked. Victoria smiled. Years of being mischievous towards Isabella were going to come in handy this moment.
She reached for her hairpin. She'd not framed Isabella for nothing when they were much younger.
It was for moments like this. Slowly, she picked the locks. Luckily for her, Harlan was anti-technology and would rather go for keys than locks.
He'd only insisted on the alarms on Damien's insistence.
With a click, the top drawer opened and Victoria rummaged through it, finding nothing. Just paper and files.
“Think Victoria. What are you looking for?” She muttered to herself, opening the second drawer and finding the exact same thing as in the first.
Just documents containing lands, taxes and the like. Nothing that signalled that he was dirty at least.
Isabella sighed as she stood up, looking all over the room. There had to be something here.
“Aha!” Victoria exclaimed as though a light had just been shone on her.
How had she not thought of this? Harlan was wise. He definitely wouldn't hide anything. All the evidence would be in plain sight.
A place you would never think of.
She smiled as she walked to the bookshelf by the couch. For a reader like Harlan, only a few books lay on the couch.
Victoria smirked. The books were arranged in a vertical line, leaving a significant space in the middle.
She would have to be a big fool if she ignored the sign before her. A small symbol lay in the middle.
Slowly, she raised it up and a new space opened up entirely.
Victoria widened her eyes gasping at the space before her. She'd been expecting something definite, but this? This had gone beyond her expectations.
It was a freaking hidden wall that houses another building.
Victoria had a look of hesitation on her face, clutching her dress. She could go back now and tell Isabella and Lucien that she had found nothing or she could go in and make a pick of the many pieces of evidence before her.
She sighed. It was tempting, but it could also be a trap.
Victoria shook her head as she turned back. She would go back to Crestwood and tell them she had found nothing.
As her hands touched the doorknob, a picture of Damien's arrogant face flashed through her mind. Then another. Tue satusfied smirk he'd had on, after abusing her in her room the day before.
Swearing, Victoria turned back. She'd changed her mind. She was going to get this evidence at all costs. Even if it costs her her life. At least, she knew she'd died trying.
She stepped into the room, picking up whatever she could, barely scanning their contents as she walked, before rushing out.
She ran to the door, turning back. She had two options. Leave the study scattered and alert Harlan or arrange them back and go back to Crestwood peacefully.
She chose the second option, slowly going back to the bookshelf as she closed the statue, the doors closing.
It would take Harlan at least three hours to figure out what had occurred in his secret room.
She'd barely closed the door to the study when she found Harlan coming in through the other door.
“Found what you were looking for?” Harlan said, his brows raised.
Victoria chuckled nervously, grateful that the gown that had given her away earlier had come in useful now. All stolen documents were hidden in her undergarments.
“Who said I was looking for something?”
Harlan scoffed. “I'm not a fool, Victoria.”
Victoria shrugged. “Fine, I was actually looking for something. But I must give you credit. Didn't find anything.” She gave an innocent smile. The one that was capable of melting hearts.
But, Harlan barely moved. “We shall see about that.” He said and walked away.
Victoria sighed as she walked hurriedly to her room, muttering a silent prayer that he'd not figured out. She needed to move and she needed to do it now.
She glanced at the room, longingly as she took out the documents, changing her clothes rapidly.
She'd grown up here, done a lot of mischief in this room and now, she was sure she would never step foot into this room.
She fastened the documents, like befire into her undergarments before wearing Rider clothes.
She was not a fast rider, but if she left now, she could confidently give the guards a 30-minute head start. At least, before anyone knew she was gone.
A knock sounded on the door. Her mother stepped in. “Leaving already?”
Victoria looked away guiltily. In all of this, she'd not considered her mother in all this. “Just realised I have to go back. Something came up.” She looked away.
The older Mrs Thorne looked up. “Should at least be creative when you want to push me away.”
Victoria cleared her throat. “I'm sorry. I didn't think you could take it.”
Mrs Thorne nodded. “You should leave. Your father will find out anytime.”
Victoria widened her eyes. “You knew?” She asked in shock.
“I know everything happening in this home, Victoria. That's why I run it.”
Victoria nodded. “I'm sorry,” she murmured, tears clouding her eyes. “I wish I had done this better.”
Her mother waved her off, enveloping her in a tight hug. “A horse is waiting for you just behind the farm. Stay safe.”
Victoria sniffed. “I'm sorry. I will.” She broke the hug as she looked around. “Try all you can to stay alive too. I'll come look for you when all of this is over.”
And with a final wave, Victoria stepped out of the room, hands in her pockets as she walked.
“I'll try,” she thought she heard her mother say as she walked.
Taking a turn, Victoria walked to the farm. The one she'd spent most of her time as a little girl and saw the horse.
She sniffed, stifling the sob as she climbed on it. And with a loud huff, drove off, aware of what she was leaving behind.