Chapter 2 - The Mask Slips
The silence in the marble foyer was deafening, broken only by Ethan’s weak, ragged gasps for air.
Victor Blackwood stood at the base of the grand hallway, shadowed by the towering arches. His posture was rigid, his tailored dark suit immaculate, but his silver-grey eyes were locked onto the terrifying scene before him. He had returned early after a contract meeting collapsed—a twist of fate that was about to unravel a nightmare.
For a split second, Serena’s composure shattered. Horror flickered across her features, but within a heartbeat, her practiced socialite mask snapped back into place. Tears instantly welled in her blue eyes, and her hands began to tremble with orchestrated panic.
“Victor!” Serena sobbed, her voice dropping into a breathless, desperate tone. She rushed toward him, taking two hurried steps before pointing a shaking finger at Lily. “Thank God you’re home! It’s Lily—she dropped him! I came down the stairs and saw her stumble! I tried to grab Ethan to save him, but she went crazy! She threw herself to the floor and started screaming at me!”
Lily remained on her knees, clutching her bruised ribs. The agony in her chest made every breath feel like broken glass, but she refused to collapse. She looked up at Victor, her vision swimming with tears.
“Victor… please,” Lily choked out, her voice raspy. “Don’t listen to her. Look at Ethan. Please, just look at your son.”
Victor didn’t say a word. The silence radiating from him was more terrifying than a roar. He bypassed Serena entirely, ignoring her outstretched, comforting hands. His heavy footfalls echoed across the marble as he approached the bottom of the staircase where Ethan lay.
As Serena moved to follow him, stepping closer to Ethan, the little boy recoiled violently. He let out a shriek of pure terror, burying his face into the cold floor and attempting to crawl away from Serena despite his broken arm.
“No! No! Mama Li!” Ethan sobbed, his tiny fingers reaching blindly toward Lily.
Victor froze. He knew his son. Ethan was a quiet, gentle boy, but he had never shown visceral terror toward anyone in the house—until now. Victor lowered himself to his knees, his massive frame shielding the boy. When Victor reached out, Ethan didn’t flinch from his father, but he kept staring frantically at Lily, his little chest heaving.
Victor gently moved his hands down Ethan’s small body until he reached his left arm. The limb hung at an unnatural angle, swollen and turning purple. The moment Victor’s fingers lightly brushed the skin, Ethan let out a high-pitched cry of agony.
Victor’s jaw tightened so hard a muscle pulsed in his cheek. He slowly turned his head toward Serena. The warmth in his eyes was gone, replaced by a lethal, glacial calm.
“You said she dropped him,” Victor said softly.
“Yes! She’s incompetent, Victor!” Serena insisted, stepping forward, her voice rising in pitch. “She’s been careless for weeks! I was going to tell you! I tried to take him to call an ambulance, but Lily attacked me— look at my heel, I had to defend myself!”
“A fall from a staircase step causes impact bruises,” Victor said, his tone ominously flat. “This is a torsional fracture. His arm was twisted and dragged.”
Serena went pale. “Victor, are you taking the word of a hired servant over mine? We’re getting married in three months! Why would I—”
“Get out of my sight,” Victor commanded softly, though the authority in his voice made the air in the foyer freeze.
“Victor!”
“Get out of this house, Serena. Go to the guest cottage. Do not leave the gates. Security will be monitoring you.” Victor stood up, scooping Ethan into his arms with agonizing care, supporting the shattered limb against his own chest.
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Victor then extended a firm hand down to Lily. Lily took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet despite her body trembling with shock and pain.
“You’re coming with us to the medical center, Lily,” Victor said, his eyes meeting hers with an intense, unspoken emotion. “I need you to tell me everything.”
