Chapter 84
On the third day.
After hesitating for a long while, Victoria finally went to the prison. "Dad, I need to tell you something."
She pressed her lips together, her lashes trembling. "There was an issue with Yara's DNA test. There's a strong chance she's actually the Windsor family's child. But Edward told me he wouldn't fight me for custody. I don't know whether I should believe him."
Her voice weakened at the end, that strange note of hesitation slipping out before she could hold it back.
The truth was, she had already formed her own answer long ago.
She was only afraid Nolan wouldn't be able to accept it.
Victoria kept her eyes down, not quite brave enough to meet her father's eyes. But after a long, stretched‑out silence with no response from him, something felt wrong.
"Dad? Dad!" She finally lifted her head, only to see Nolan staring into space, looking far more out of sorts than she could have imagined. Panic pushed her words out faster. "Dad, what's wrong? Did you not sleep last night? Or did someone mess with you in here?"
He had been perfectly fine the last time she visited.
Nothing explained why everything had fallen apart so quickly.
And Nolan didn't look like a man who'd simply who had simply slept badly.
He blinked slowly, as though her voice dragged him back. He forced a thin smile. "I'm fine. I just remembered something. Right now, I can't help you much. If you feel he's someone you can trust, then follow your heart. I'll always be on your side."
He meant every word, but it was painfully obvious he was avoiding talking about his own condition.
Victoria narrowed her eyes, pretending to accept the explanation even as dread unspooled in her chest.
"Alright, Dad. Then rest. I'll come see you again in a bit."
She stood, noticing the guard approaching from down the hall. Lowering her gaze, she hid the worry swirling in her eyes. "Please take care of yourself."
The entire visit felt wrong in a way she couldn't name.
That sense of unease clawed at her from the inside, rising until she had to shove it back down just to stay steady.
Victoria walked out of the detention center's gates.
The sky hung low and dark, as if a storm was waiting on the edge of breaking loose.
"Mr. Windsor." She pulled out her phone, her slender fingers sliding across the screen before tapping the number she called more than any other. "I need your help looking into something."
Just seconds before picking up her call, Edward had received a report from Chase.
Sitting behind his desk, he wore that cool, unreadable expression, the documents stacked neatly to one side. The breeze drifting through the open window flipped a corner of the top page, only for it to fall flat again.
"Mr. Windsor, the people you planted inside the prison just sent word."
Chase approached, phone in hand, looking unusually grave. "I skimmed it. This is tied to Ms. Spencer's father… and there's something involving the Smith family as well."
He hesitated, Adam's apple bobbing. "Say it," Edward murmured without looking up, only lifting his eyes slightly. "All of it."
Aiden had actually gone after Nolan.
It meant half of what they previously uncovered might truly be real.
If so, his detached gaze darkened for a moment before smoothing out again.
"Apparently, Aiden bribed some guys inside the prison to corner Nolan whenever no one else was around. They beat him in places that wouldn't show."
Chase winced, even as he said it. "When Ms. Spencer visited today, he was already bruised, and last night's dinner had been dumped on the floor. Our people haven't acted yet—we were waiting for your signal."
It was pathetic—this kind of gutter‑level cruelty.
Chase clenched his jaw.
He hated people who preyed on those who couldn't fight back.
And Aiden's reputation had never been good to begin with.
Now it had bottomed out entirely.
"We should," He didn't finish, because Edward's other phone suddenly buzzed from the far end of the desk, its crisp ringtone slicing through the room.
Edward flicked his gaze toward it.
Victoria.
His brow lifted slightly before he picked it up. "What is it?"
Chase caught the warning look Edward sent his way and immediately pressed his lips shut—literally making the gesture.
Whoever claimed Edward and Victoria had zero chemistry would have to fight him, because the evidence was right here in high definition.
He had never seen the CEO act like this. Ever.
Muttering to himself, he nevertheless angled himself discreetly, ears perked to catch the conversation.
"You want me to look into something?" Edward's voice was calm, not even pretending he didn't already know. "If you mean your father's situation today, I can tell you."
His fingers tapped once against the desk, the movement sharp and measured. "Aiden bribed people inside. They've been hurting your father every day. What do you plan to do?"
What?
Victoria had known something was off with Nolan—but she hadn't expected anything like this.
"Are you serious?" She sat stiffly in the back of the bus, fury roiling through her so hot it made her vision prickle.
She fought to hold herself together, her teeth practically chattering. "I want revenge."
She never imagined.
All she'd done was learn the truth, and not even publicly, yet Aiden had already moved to silence her entire family.
If Yara hadn't been protected, would both people she loved have ended up as targets?
She couldn't bear the thought.
"I know I don't have the power to take on Creative Haven right now."
Edward stayed silent on the other end. She knew that silence—it meant he was waiting for her to say what she truly wanted.
Drawing a deep breath, she pulled herself together. "I want to use your resources to investigate what happened to the Spencer family. And I need you to protect my dad for a while. If you have conditions, I'll do my best to meet them."
She was out of options.
All she had left to offer was herself—her time, her abilities, whatever Edward might want.
If he even wanted her at all.
It was all she had.
"I can help you first," Edward said, unexpectedly cooperative. "I haven’t decided on any conditions yet. Go do what you need to do. We'll talk about the exchange later. How's that?"
If this had been any other time, Victoria would have overthought it to death—worried he'd name some impossible term she couldn't fulfill.
But not now.
"Okay!" Her voice rang with fierce certainty, a sudden heat flooding through her whole body. "Deal!"