Chapter 2 - THE STAR PENDANT
Victoria was taken to St. Catherine’s Trauma Center.
Mia rode with Gabriel in the second ambulance.
Elena traveled beside Victoria because she knew what happened before the fall.
Michael was transported to the county jail.
He continued claiming self-defense.
At the hospital, surgeons discovered a fractured shoulder, severe cuts, and bleeding around Victoria’s brain.
She remained unconscious.
No one could promise when she would wake.
Mia sat in a private waiting room wearing one of Gabriel’s shirts over her party dress.
The hem reached her ankles.
She held her mother’s silver shoe against her chest.
Gabriel knelt in front of her.
“You did exactly what we practiced.”
Mia looked toward the closed surgical doors.
“I pressed the star too late.”
“No.”
“You pressed it when you knew you needed help.”
“Mommy still got hurt.”
“That is Michael’s fault.”
“Not yours.”
Mia lowered her voice.
“He said he would make it look like Mommy left us.”
Gabriel became still.
“When did he say that?”
“Before the party.”
“He told Aunt Serena the lake would hide everything.”
Gabriel knew Serena.
Michael’s older sister managed the estate’s finances and household contracts.
She had attended the charity gala earlier that evening.
She had disappeared shortly before Victoria entered the foyer.
Detective Lena Morales entered the waiting room.
She had already listened to the pendant recording.
The device captured the crash.
Michael’s threats.
Mia crying.
It also captured another voice.
A woman spoke from the hallway seconds before Victoria hit the cabinet.
“Do it now.”
“Security is down for nine minutes.”
Mia recognized the voice.
“Aunt Serena.”
Elena entered with a bandage around her palm.
She had cut herself pulling glass away from Victoria.
“Serena disabled the cameras.”
“She told the security team Mr. Michael wanted privacy.”
Gabriel looked at her.
“How long has this been happening?”
Elena’s eyes filled.
“Longer than Mrs. Cross allowed anyone to see.”
Victoria still used Michael’s surname publicly.
But Gabriel had never stopped calling her Victoria Stone.
Elena explained that Michael controlled every call inside the mansion.
He opened Victoria’s mail.
He changed the household staff.
He threatened to report Elena for theft if she spoke.
Then she gave Gabriel something wrapped in a hand towel.
Victoria’s phone.
The screen was cracked.
May you like
A draft message remained unsent.
Dad, if anything happens to me, open the blue room before Michael does.
