Chapter 15
Victoria slammed the phone down onto the table with a force that echoed through the room, her hands trembling. The sound startled everyone, but no one said a word as they watched her, shoulders heaving, fists clenched at her sides.
Then it happened. The tears she had been holding back for so long broke free. She buried her face in her hands and let out a gut-wrenching sob, her entire body shaking as months of pent-up rage, fear, and heartbreak finally spilled out.
Elena was the first to move. She rushed to Victoria’s side, kneeling beside her chair and wrapping a steadying arm around her shoulders. “Victoria,” she said softly, her voice calm but firm, “you’re a strong woman. Don’t let this affect you.”
Victoria shook her head, her words muffled through her hands. “How can I not?” she cried, her voice trembling. “He’s everywhere, Elena. Everywhere. In my head, in my life, in every damn choice I have to make.”
Elena squeezed her shoulder. “That’s because you’re letting him live there. Stop giving him that power.”
Victoria snapped her head up, her tear-streaked face a mixture of anger and despair. “He already took everything from me! My family, my life, my identity. Now he wants to act like he’s the protector? Like he’s the one who can save me? It’s sick, Elena. It’s disgusting.”
Elena didn’t flinch. She held Victoria’s gaze, her own steady and filled with determination. “You’re right. It’s sick. But what he wants doesn’t matter. What Selena wants doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is you, your baby, and what you’re going to do next.”
Jonathan cleared his throat awkwardly, standing at a distance. “Elena’s right. They’re both trying to control the narrative. They want to dictate how this plays out, but you don’t have to let them.”
Tobias leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed as he watched Victoria closely. “You came back to fight, Victoria. Don’t lose sight of that now. You’ve already rattled them. Damian doesn’t know what to do with you, and Selena’s spiraling. That’s your power.”
Victoria wiped her face with the back of her hand, her breathing uneven as she tried to compose herself. “Power?” she said bitterly. “What power? I can’t even keep my car from being vandalized. I can’t keep myself safe, let alone my child.”
Elena tightened her grip on Victoria’s shoulder. “You’re stronger than this. You’ve already survived the worst thing anyone could ever go through—your own death. You faked it, you clawed your way back, and now you’re here. Don’t let their threats stop you now.”
Victoria let out a shaky breath, her fingers curling into fists on the table. “I don’t know how much more I can take, Elena. Every time I feel like I’m gaining ground, they knock me back down.”
“Then get back up,” Tobias said bluntly. His tone was sharp but not unkind. “You don’t have to do this alone, Victoria. You’ve got us. Use us.”
“Exactly,” Elena added. “We’re with you every step of the way. You’re not just fighting for yourself—you’re fighting for that baby. For your future.”
Victoria sniffed, her voice softer now. “And what if I lose? What if I can’t protect the baby? What if—”
“Don’t,” Elena interrupted firmly. “Don’t even say it. You’re not going to lose. You’ve already come this far, and you’re not giving up now.”
Victoria nodded weakly, her fingers trembling as she brushed away the last of her tears. “I just feel so… so alone sometimes.”
“You’re not alone,” Jonathan said, stepping closer to the table. “We’re here. We’re all here because we believe in you, Victoria. But we can’t believe for you. You need to believe in yourself.”
For a moment, the room fell silent, the weight of Jonathan’s words hanging in the air. Victoria closed her eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath. She was tired, yes. Exhausted, even. But she wasn’t done.
When she opened her eyes, there was a spark of determination in them. “You’re right,” she said quietly. “I can’t let them win. Not this time.”
Elena smiled, her voice softening. “That’s the Victoria I know. That’s the woman who came back from the dead to fight for what’s hers.”
Victoria reached for her mug of tea, only to find it cold. She set it back down, letting her fingers rest on the surface for a moment. “We need a plan. Selena’s losing control, but that makes her more dangerous. Damian… I don’t know what his game is, but I can’t trust him.”
“No, you can’t,” Tobias said grimly. “But you can outmaneuver him. Both of them.”
Jonathan leaned forward, his tone serious. “First, we need to make sure your security is airtight. No more surprises. No more vandalized cars or anonymous threats.”
Victoria nodded. “Agreed. I can’t afford another scare like that.”
Elena was about to respond when a loud crash shattered the calm. The sound echoed through the house, sharp and jarring, like something heavy had hit the floor—or broken through a window.
Everyone froze. Tobias was the first to move, rising to his feet in one swift motion. “Stay here,” he said sharply, his voice low but commanding.
Victoria stood too, her heart racing. “What was that?”
Elena grabbed her arm. “Stay back, Victoria. Tobias, Jonathan—check it out.”
Jonathan nodded, already moving toward the hallway. Tobias followed closely, his hand instinctively reaching for the concealed weapon under his jacket.
Victoria tried to steady her breathing, her hand drifting to her stomach. Elena tightened her grip on her arm, her voice calm but firm. “It’s okay. We’ve got this. Just stay behind me.”
