Chapter 38
The brightly lit aisles of the baby store were a stark contrast to the chaos and darkness swirling in Victoria’s life. Rows of tiny onesies, pastel-colored blankets, and shelves filled with baby toys surrounded her, offering a moment of much-needed calm. Elena pushed a shopping cart beside her, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she picked up every other item to inspect it.
“Oh my God, Victoria, look at this!” Elena exclaimed, holding up a tiny yellow onesie with the words Mommy’s Little Miracle printed in bold letters. “This is adorable.”
Victoria glanced at it, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s cute, but do you think it’s too much? I mean, he or she is already a miracle—we don’t need to advertise it.”
Elena snorted, tossing the onesie into the cart. “Too much? This is baby shopping. The whole point is to go overboard. Now, what about this?” She held up a plush giraffe with big, floppy ears.
Victoria shook her head, trying not to laugh. “You’re treating this like it’s your baby.”
“Well, someone has to,” Elena teased, nudging her with her elbow. “You’re too practical. Where’s the fun, the excitement?”
“I’m excited,” Victoria protested, picking up a soft blue blanket and running her fingers over the fabric. “I just have a lot on my mind, that’s all.”
Elena’s playful grin softened as she turned to face her. “I know you do, V. But you’ve got to let yourself enjoy this, even just for a little while. You’re bringing a life into this world. That deserves a little happiness.”
Victoria nodded, her smile faint but genuine. “You’re right. It’s just… everything feels so uncertain right now.”
Elena grabbed a package of bibs adorned with tiny elephants. “Well, one thing’s for sure—this baby is going to be the best-dressed kid in town.”
Victoria chuckled. “Thanks to you.”
They continued through the store, adding essentials like bottles, diapers, and baby monitors to the cart. Elena kept up a steady stream of chatter, occasionally pulling Victoria out of her thoughts with a ridiculous suggestion or a funny observation.
“Should we get one of those fancy strollers with built-in speakers?” Elena asked, gesturing to a sleek, high-tech stroller.
“Speakers?” Victoria raised an eyebrow. “Are we raising a DJ?”
Elena grinned. “Hey, you never know. Plus, it’ll be great for playing lullabies or, you know, Eye of the Tiger during morning walks.”
Victoria shook her head, laughing. “I think we’ll stick to something simple and practical.”
As they debated over cribs, Victoria’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her brows knitting together when she saw Tobias’s name on the screen.
“What is it?” Elena asked, noticing the change in Victoria’s expression.
Victoria opened the message, her eyes scanning the text. Her heart skipped a beat as she read the words:
“Rebecca is arrested. Apparently, she’s behind the murder.”
She froze, her grip tightening on the phone as her mind raced. Rebecca. The same Rebecca who had caused a scene at dinner with Zayden. The same Rebecca who had claimed to have a history with him. It didn’t make sense.
“Victoria?” Elena’s voice broke through her thoughts. “What’s wrong?”
Victoria turned the screen toward her, letting Elena read the message. Elena’s eyes widened, and she let out a low whistle. “Rebecca? Seriously? What’s her deal?”
“I don’t know,” Victoria said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But Tobias wouldn’t say this unless he was sure. How could she…?” Her words trailed off as memories of that night flooded her mind—the body in the cellar, Zayden’s shock, and now this revelation.
Elena frowned, crossing her arms. “So, what? She killed the HR manager and planted him in Zayden’s house? Why? And how did she think she’d get away with it?”
“I don’t know,” Victoria repeated, her thoughts spinning. “But this changes everything. If Rebecca is behind it, Zayden really didn’t know. He was telling the truth.”
Elena nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. “We need to figure out why Rebecca would do this. What’s her connection to all of this? She doesn’t even work for Kane Industries.”
Victoria swallowed hard, her mind racing. “She did say she and Zayden had history. Maybe it’s about him. Maybe she wanted to frame him for something, but why tie it to my company?”
“Maybe she’s working with someone,” Elena suggested. “Someone who does have something to gain from all of this.”
The thought sent a chill down Victoria’s spine. “Damian and Selena.”
Elena raised an eyebrow. “You really think they’d go that far?”
Victoria gave her a pointed look. “You know they would.”
Elena sighed, leaning against the shopping cart. “This is a mess. But Tobias is on it, right? He’ll get to the bottom of it.”
Victoria nodded, though the knot in her stomach didn’t ease. “He’ll figure it out. And so will I.”
Elena placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “In the meantime, we’ve got a baby to shop for. Come on, let’s focus on something happy for a little while.”
Victoria managed a small smile, grateful for Elena’s unshakable optimism. “Alright,” she said, forcing herself to push the worries aside. “Let’s finish this shopping spree.”
