Chapter 13 - SERENA’S DEFENSE
Serena’s attorney described her as another victim of Anthony Blackwood.
He claimed Anthony threatened her family.
He claimed Price manipulated her.
He claimed Victor’s criminal reputation made it impossible for her to seek help.
Detective Ruiz listened without emotion.
Then she played the foyer recording.
The jury would hear Serena tell Lily that nobody cared about a cheap nanny.
They would watch her press her heel into Lily’s abdomen.
They would see her drag Ethan by the arm.
No threat from Anthony forced those choices.
Serena asked to meet Lily.
Lily agreed only because Ruiz would remain present.
Serena entered wearing a jail uniform.
She looked smaller without diamonds and silk.
“You think Victor will make you family now?” Serena asked.
“I was family before either of us knew.”
Serena’s expression tightened.
“You always wanted my place.”
“No.”
“I wanted Ethan safe.”
“You wanted Victor.”
Lily almost laughed.
“Not every woman enters a house to own the man inside it.”
Serena looked away.
Lily continued.
“Why did you hurt Ethan?”
“He cried every time I touched him.”
“He knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That I did not love him.”
The honesty was more disturbing than another lie.
Serena had tried to become Victor’s wife because she wanted wealth, protection, and status.
Ethan represented Isabella.
He represented an inheritance Serena could control but never truly possess.
The child rejected her affection because it was performance.
She responded by punishing him.
“Did you kill Isabella?” Lily asked.
Serena’s face changed.
“Price changed the medication.”
“You delivered it.”
“I believed it would make her confused.”
“You knew Crane wanted her silent.”
“I did not know she would die.”
Lily stood.
“You all say the same thing.”
“I did not mean the final harm.”
“I only created every condition required for it.”
Serena’s eyes filled with anger.
“You think you are better because you crawled across a floor?”
“No.”
“I think Ethan deserved one adult willing to do it.”
Lily left.
Victor waited in the corridor.
He had heard the conversation through the open interview-room speaker.
“Do you pity her?” he asked.
“No.”
“Do you hate her?”
“Not enough to let her control another part of my life.”
Victor looked toward the floor.
“I spent years believing fear kept my family safe.”
“It kept people obedient.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“No.”
He looked at Lily.
“I am ending the Blackwood organization.”
She stared at him.
May you like
“Can you?”
“I built enough of it to know where it breaks.”
