Chapter 286: Like Superheroes

Chapter 286: Like Superheroes
Zoe, Duke's wife, pushed her way forward through the small crowd. Her face twisted with disgust as she surveyed the little living space.

"Duke Thornton," she spat, each word dripping with contempt. "You couldn't even afford to buy an apartment for your mistress? Had to hide her right under my nose? This is absolutely revolting." 

Duke whipped around to face her. "Shut up! What's wrong with keeping a woman? Look at yourself—all 'darling this' and 'sweetheart that' in public while secretly transferring my assets behind my back. You think I don't know what you've been doing?"

I glanced at the twins, who were watching wide-eyed as this family drama exploded. Catching Jenny's eye across the cellar, I motioned toward Harper and Theo. She understood immediately, hurrying over to usher them away from the unfolding scene. 

"Enough!" George roared, silencing the bickering couple. "Everyone be quiet!" 

The group fell silent. George gestured toward the exit, his face ashen with rage and what looked like physical pain. "All of you, out. Now." 

As people began to shuffle toward the stairs, James called out, "Wait. Nobody leave." He pressed against a particular stone, and with a low grinding sound, a section of the wall swung inward, revealing a narrow passage.

And there, face pale with fury and fear, stood Victoria Thornton.

"You," I breathed, the single word carrying six years of hatred.

Victoria stepped back, but there was nowhere to run. Behind her stood more of Marcus's men, blocking the tunnel's other exit.

"What is the meaning of this?" George roared, looking between Duke and Victoria.

"I can explain," Victoria began, her composure already returning despite her disheveled appearance.

Duke cut her off. "I have no idea why she's here. I told you, the woman I've been keeping here isn't her."

"Liar!" Victoria hissed. "You've been hiding me for months!"

"Prove it," Duke challenged.

Marcus stepped forward, tablet in hand. "I have surveillance footage of Duke and Victoria entering the Peninsula Hotel together every Wednesday afternoon for the past three years."

The color drained from Duke's face.

George swayed slightly, one hand clutching his chest. "You've been... with her? All this time?" His voice was barely a whisper. "The woman who murdered your mother?"

Duke sank to his knees in front of George. "Father, please forgive me. Think of what this will do to the family name. First William, now me? The Thornton empire will collapse. You'll be a laughingstock."

George looked down at his son, his face a mask of anguish. Then he straightened, his decision made. "Everyone out. What happens in this family stays in this family." His eyes found James. "You. Come with me. Now."

As James followed his grandfather, he caught my eye briefly. I couldn't read his expression, but a cold knot of fear formed in my stomach.

Would history repeat itself? Would James once again choose his family over me?

I watched James's retreating back and wondered if I'd miscalculated. George Thornton had lost one son to prison already. Faced with losing another, would he sacrifice justice to protect the Thornton name? And if he did, would James stand with me this time, or would he once again bow to his grandfather's will?

The uncertainty made me sick. After everything we'd rebuilt, I couldn't bear to lose James again. But I also couldn't let Victoria walk free.

All I could do now was wait—and hope that this time, things would be different.

No one moved. Victoria stood frozen in the narrow passage, her perfectly maintained mask of composure cracking at the edges. The rest of the Thornton family looked shell-shocked, as if someone had detonated a bomb in their pristine world of wealth and privilege.

After six years of nightmares, of waking up gasping for breath with the phantom smell of smoke in my nostrils, I was finally face-to-face with the woman who had tried to kill me. The woman who had stolen years of my children's lives with their father. 

Victoria's eyes locked with mine, and I saw something flicker in them—not remorse, but calculation. Even now, cornered like an animal, she was still plotting.

Minutes stretched into eternity. Then footsteps echoed on the stone stairs, and James returned. His face gave nothing away, but he walked directly to me and took my hand in his, squeezing gently. The simple gesture sent a wave of relief through me. Whatever George had said to him in that office, James had made his choice—and he had chosen me.

"Marcus," James said, his voice cold and authoritative, "take them to the police station." He glanced at Duke, who was still kneeling on the ground. "All of them."

"Yes, sir," Marcus nodded, signaling to his men.

Murmurs of protest erupted from the Thornton family members. Kelly gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Zoe shot Duke a look of pure disgust but seemed genuinely surprised at how far this was going.

"You can't do this," someone objected. "Think of the family name!"

"The police are already on their way," James replied impassively. "This isn't up for debate."

As the security team moved to escort Victoria from her hiding place, Duke finally found his voice. He lunged to his feet, face contorted with rage.

"You can't do this to me! I'm your uncle! I'm a Thornton!" He struggled against the grip of Marcus's men. "How dare you treat family like this!"

James didn't flinch. "You stopped being family the moment you conspired with her."

Duke's eyes bulged as he was pulled toward the stairs. He twisted in his captors' grip, spitting venom at James. "You think you're so righteous? James Thornton, you're nothing but a disaster for this family! Ever since you came back, we haven't had a moment's peace! Every misfortune is because of you! The downfall of the Thornton family is entirely your fault!"

The remaining family members shifted uncomfortably, their eyes darting between Duke and James, clearly weighing his words.

I tightened my grip on James's hand, concern spreading through me. If they all turned against him now, if they saw him as the cause of their troubles rather than Victoria and Duke's crimes...

But James seemed utterly unmoved by Duke's accusations. I glanced up at his profile—strong jaw set with determination, eyes cool and distant. This wasn't the same man who had bowed to his grandfather's will six years ago. This James Thornton had evolved beyond seeking the approval of people who shared nothing with him but DNA.

"Kelly," James said, turning to George's wife, "please take care of my grandfather."

Kelly nodded, visibly rattled but composed. "I will. Don't worry."

"Let's go," James said to me, his voice softening as he squeezed my hand. "Let's go home."

I murmured my agreement and followed him out, leaving behind the suffocating darkness and the echoing shouts of Duke Thornton.

Stepping outside was like emerging into another world. The bright sunlight felt surreal after the darkness of the wine cellar, the blue sky and manicured gardens of the estate a bizarre contrast to the ugly scene we'd just witnessed. 

James led me toward the car waiting at the front of the estate. Inside, Harper and Theo were already strapped into their booster seats, eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and lingering fear.

"Mom! James!" Harper practically bounced out of her seat when she saw us, almost hitting her head on the car roof. "Did that super mean man get arrested? Did you knock him out, James? Like superheroes do in movies?"