Chapter 10 - THE WOMEN BEFORE LENA
The investigation uncovered two women from Victor’s past.
The first was Camille Ross.
She had dated Victor during college.
Twenty-one years earlier, Camille fell from a second-floor balcony during a party.
Victor told police she was intoxicated.
Camille suffered a fractured spine.
She never walked without assistance again.
She had tried to tell investigators that Victor pushed her.
Richard hired an attorney.
Helen visited Camille’s parents.
The family received a large settlement.
No criminal charges were filed.
Helen remembered delivering the check.
She had told herself she was helping a frightened young woman rebuild her life.
Now she understood the payment had purchased silence.
The second woman was Naomi Price.
She worked as Victor’s executive assistant during his first years at Hale Meridian.
Naomi filed a complaint after Victor struck her inside an elevator.
Security footage disappeared.
She received a severance package and signed a confidentiality agreement.
Victor later told Lena that Naomi had become obsessed with him.
Lena believed him.
Both women agreed to testify.
Camille appeared at the courthouse using a silver cane.
Helen waited outside the courtroom.
When Camille saw her, she stopped.
Helen began to speak.
Camille raised one hand.
“I do not want your apology yet.”
Helen nodded.
“You do not owe me forgiveness.”
“No.”
Camille’s voice remained calm.
“I don’t.”
She entered the courtroom.
Helen sat alone in the hallway and cried.
Richard joined her.
“I paid for that settlement,” he said.
“I told myself I was protecting Victor’s future.”
“We protected him from consequences,” Helen replied.
“And Lena paid the price.”
“Not only Lena.”
Helen looked toward the courtroom.
“Everyone after Camille.”
During her testimony, Camille described Victor’s anger.
She described his ability to become charming seconds after violence.
She described how his parents’ money changed the investigation.
Victor watched without emotion.
Then Naomi testified.
She produced an email Victor had sent after the elevator attack.
YOU MADE ME REACT.
The sentence matched language found in messages to Lena.
The prosecution established a pattern.
Victor did not lose control.
He used violence to regain control.
Outside the courthouse, reporters surrounded Camille.
She ignored them.
Lena approached her quietly.
“I believed what Victor said about you.”
Camille looked at her.
“So did almost everyone.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You survived him.”
“That is enough for today.”
May you like
Then Camille touched Lena’s hand.
“Do not spend the rest of your life apologizing for the lies he taught you.”
