Victor’s words echoed in my mind as I sat alone in my room, staring at the walls as though they held the answers I couldn’t find within myself. “Leave my sons alone, or your family will pay the price.” He’d made his ultimatum clear, and the weight of it pressed down on me like a crushing tide.
My heart ached with indecision. Should I walk away to protect my family, or stay and risk everything for the truth? The logical choice was obvious, but something deep inside me refused to let go. Evelyn deserved justice, and if I left now, who else would fight for her?
A knock at the window startled me. I turned to see Grayson standing outside, his face shadowed by the night. I quickly opened it, stepping back to let him in.
“You really need to stop sneaking in through my window,” I said, crossing my arms.
Grayson ignored the comment, his expression grave. “We need to talk.”
I sat down on the edge of my bed, motioning for him to continue.
“What’s going on?” I asked, bracing myself for more bad news.
Grayson leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. “My father. What did he say to you?”
I hesitated, debating whether or not to tell him the truth. “He… he gave me an ultimatum,” I admitted. “He said if I don’t leave you and your brothers alone, my family will pay the price.”
Grayson’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. “Of course he did.”
“Why is he doing this?” I demanded, my voice trembling. “Why is he so obsessed with controlling everything?”
Grayson let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Because that’s who he is. My father doesn’t care about loyalty or family. He only cares about power. He sees everyone as a pawn in his game—even his own sons.”
My stomach churned as his words sunk in. “How long have you known?”
Grayson looked away, his jaw clenching. “Years. I’ve known about his… tendencies since I was a teenager. But I’ve never been able to do anything about it.”
I stood up, anger bubbling to the surface. “You’ve known this whole time? About the way he manipulates people, the things he’s done, and you never said anything?”
“What was I supposed to do, Lila?” Grayson snapped, his voice rising. “He’s my father. And he’s untouchable. You think I haven’t wanted to stop him? I have. But every time I’ve tried, he’s made it clear that he’ll destroy anyone who gets in his way. Including me.”
His voice cracked on the last words, and I saw the vulnerability he was trying so hard to hide.
“So you just let him get away with it?” I asked, my voice softer now.
Grayson’s shoulders slumped, and he sighed. “If you’re going to leave, Lila, do it now. Before it’s too late. He won’t stop until he’s broken you. Trust me—I’ve seen it happen before.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. “You think I should leave?”
“I think you should protect yourself,” he said quietly. “Because if you stay, my father will come for you. And I don’t know if I can stop him.”
Later that night, I couldn’t sleep. Grayson’s warning played on a loop in my head, making it impossible to think about anything else.
I found myself pacing the floor, trying to make sense of everything. Grayson was right—Victor was dangerous. But leaving didn’t feel like an option anymore. I was in too deep, and walking away now felt like admitting defeat.
In my frustration, I started going through the things I’d taken from the mansion’s basement, hoping to find something—anything—that might give me a clearer picture of what was really going on.
That’s when I found it.
A small, unmarked cassette tape hidden in the folds of an old journal. My heart raced as I grabbed my portable tape player, quickly inserting the cassette and pressing play.
At first, there was only static. But then, Victor’s voice came through, clear and cold.
“She was a liability,” he said, his tone devoid of emotion. “Evelyn knew too much. She got too close. I had no choice.”
I froze, my breath catching in my throat as the recording continued.
“Sacrifices must be made,” Victor said. “It’s the only way to ensure loyalty. The only way to maintain control.”
The tape clicked, signaling the end of the recording. I sat there in stunned silence, the weight of his words pressing down on me.
Victor had killed Evelyn.
I had proof.