Chapter 8 - VICTORIA WAKES
Victoria’s first word was Mia.
Gabriel brought her to the bedside after the doctor approved a short visit.
Mia climbed carefully onto the chair.
She did not touch her mother until Victoria lifted one hand.
Then Mia pressed her face into her palm.
“I pushed the star.”
Victoria attempted to smile.
“I heard it.”
Her voice remained weak.
Elena stood near the door.
Victoria looked toward her.
“You saved Mia.”
Elena began crying.
“I couldn’t stop him from hurting you.”
“You stayed.”
“That saved her.”
Detective Morales waited until the doctor allowed questions.
Victoria remembered the entire confrontation.
Michael demanded that she sign a voting transfer.
She refused.
Serena disabled security.
Harold had been expected to arrive after the gala and move Victoria to Black Pine Lodge.
When Victoria threatened to call Gabriel, Michael threw her into the glass cabinet.
He believed the impact killed her.
Mia came downstairs before Serena could move the body.
The emergency pendant changed everything.
Victoria also revealed that the mansion’s official security chief, Colin Mercer, helped Michael.
He provided access schedules and removed loyal guards.
Mercer had not been seen since the attack.
His company vehicle was found near the lake lodge.
Inside were passports for Michael, Serena, Patricia, and Harold.
One passport carried Mia’s photograph under another name.
They planned to take the child overseas after Victoria disappeared.
Victoria’s eyes closed.
“I gave Michael too many chances.”
Gabriel leaned closer.
“This is not the moment to blame yourself.”
“I knew he was moving money.”
“I knew he frightened Mia.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I spent my whole life proving I could survive without you.”
Gabriel understood.
His power had always filled every room.
Victoria loved him.
She also feared becoming an extension of him.
Michael used that fear to isolate her.
“I should have listened without taking over,” Gabriel said.
“You should have called without believing I would.”
Both had mistakes to carry.
Neither mistake caused Michael’s violence.
That distinction mattered.
Victoria signed a statement transferring temporary control of her shares to an independent trustee.
Not Gabriel.
Not Michael.
Not any family member.
Power would no longer depend on who controlled her body.
Then a nurse entered with an urgent message.
Someone had accessed Mia’s school records and emergency contacts.
May you like
The request came from Colin Mercer.
He was still in Chicago.
