Victor Cross was many things—manipulative, dangerous, and ruthless. But above all, he was a liar. As I stood in his office, clutching the cassette tape like a weapon, I could see the faint trace of amusement on his face, as if he thought this was all a game.
I wasn’t playing anymore.
“You killed Evelyn,” I said, my voice shaking with fury.
Victor leaned back in his chair, his hands folded neatly on his desk. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I slammed the tape down in front of him. “Don’t lie to me! I have proof—your voice, your words. ‘She was a liability. Evelyn knew too much.’ Those were your exact words.”
For the first time, his calm façade cracked. His eyes darkened, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
“So, you’ve been snooping,” he said slowly, his tone cold and measured.
“Snooping?” I spat. “You murdered someone! And now you’re trying to do the same to me. Why, Victor? What’s your plan this time?”
He stood abruptly, towering over me as he leaned across the desk. “Evelyn was a threat to this family. She got too close to things she shouldn’t have. Just like you.”
I took a step back, my heart pounding. “You think killing people solves your problems? It doesn’t. It just makes you a monster.”
Victor chuckled darkly, shaking his head. “You’re so naïve, Lila. Do you think my sons are innocent in all of this? They’re just as complicit as I am. This family’s secrets are bigger than you, bigger than Evelyn. Sacrifices have to be made to protect them.”
I clenched my fists, anger and disbelief coursing through me. “You’re wrong. You didn’t protect them. You destroyed them. And now you’re trying to do the same to me.”
Victor’s expression hardened, and he took a step closer. “Evelyn was just the start. You think you’re different? You’re not.”
His words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to back down. “I am different,” I said firmly. “Because I’m not afraid of you. And I’m going to expose everything you’ve done.”
He smirked, but there was no humor in it. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Lila. And you’re going to lose.”
I left the mansion in a daze, Victor’s words replaying in my mind. My hands were trembling as I walked down the driveway, my heart racing with a mix of fear and determination.
Grayson was waiting for me at the gate, his expression unreadable.
“What happened in there?” he asked, his voice low.
I looked up at him, my throat tightening. “I know the truth, Grayson. Your father admitted it. He killed Evelyn.”
Grayson’s jaw clenched, and he let out a shaky breath. “I told you to stay away from him. You shouldn’t have gone in there alone.”
“I had to,” I said, my voice breaking. “I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.”
Grayson took a step closer, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place—fear, anger, maybe both. “You don’t understand, Lila. He’s not going to stop until he destroys you. You need to leave. Now.”
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “I’m not leaving you. Not now. Not ever.”
“Damn it, Lila,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “This isn’t about us. It’s about keeping you alive.”
“And what about you?” I demanded. “What happens to you if I leave? He’ll just find someone else to hurt, and you’ll still be under his control.”
Grayson’s shoulders slumped, and for a moment, he looked completely defeated. “I can handle him. I’ve been doing it my whole life.”
“No,” I said firmly. “You can’t. Not alone. And I’m not going to let him win. We’re going to take him down together.”
His gaze softened, and for a brief moment, it felt like the rest of the world faded away. He reached out, brushing a tear from my cheek. “You’re so damn stubborn, you know that?”
I let out a shaky laugh. “You’re just figuring that out now?”
He pulled me into a hug, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe.
That night, I woke to the smell of smoke.
At first, I thought I was dreaming, but then I heard the frantic shouts of my parents downstairs.
“Lila!” my mom screamed. “Get out of the house!”
I bolted out of bed, coughing as thick black smoke filled my lungs. Flames were licking at the walls, consuming everything in their path. I grabbed my phone and ran to the hallway, where my dad was frantically trying to break a window.
“We need to go, now!” he yelled, pulling me toward the front door.
We barely made it outside before the entire house was engulfed in flames. My mom sobbed as my dad held her close, and I stood there in shock, watching my home burn to the ground.
As the fire roared, I felt a chill run down my spine.
Across the street, hidden in the shadows, a figure stood watching.