Chapter 9 - THE EMPTY ROOM The hospital room looked untouched.
That was the terrifying part.
Ethan's blanket was folded.
His toy sat on the floor.
His blue cast was gone from sight.
Isabella was unconscious.
One security officer was injured.
No gunshot.
No explosion.
Just a forged emergency transfer.
Victor's face became expressionless.
Lily forced herself to think.
“Where would Serena take him?”
“The airport,” Victor said.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Think.”
Isabella woke briefly.
Her lips moved.
“The church.”
Old Saint Agnes.
The chapel where Victor and Isabella had married.
Serena had once stood outside that building, watching them.
Police surrounded it.
Victor entered alone.
Serena stood beside the altar.
Ethan was in her arms.
“Tell me you would have chosen me,” she whispered.
Victor stared at her.
“I came for my son.”
“You loved Isabella because she was allowed to exist.”
“No.”
“I wanted what she had.”
“You wanted what you believed she deserved.”
Serena's eyes filled.
“And what did I deserve?”
Victor looked at Ethan.
“A life that didn't involve hurting children.”
Serena stepped backward.
Lily saw the broken floorboard.
One wrong movement could kill the child.
She entered.
“Ethan is cold.”
“Stay back!”
“He's scared.”
Serena's grip tightened.
Lily looked at Ethan.
“Hey, buddy.”
His eyes found hers.
“Lil.”
Serena froze.
Lily spoke softly.
“You can hate me.”
Serena stared.
“But let him go.”
“You think you're better than me?”
“No.”
Lily shook her head.
“I think he deserves to be safe.”
Ethan reached toward her.
Serena's face collapsed.
For one second, she looked less like a villain and more like a woman finally realizing she had lost everything she tried to possess.
Then she shoved Ethan.
Lily caught him.
Victor seized Serena.
Police rushed forward.
Handcuffs closed around Serena's wrists.
Ethan cried.
Victor knelt beside him.
“Are you okay?”
The little boy reached for Lily.
Victor saw it.
He didn't resent her.
May you like
He understood.
This woman had protected his son when he hadn't.
