Chapter 5 Caspianâs voice broke as he wiped away a tear. âThree search teams out looking. Not a single damn lead. Dad... what if Val did something to herself? After everything that happened...â
âDonât even say that,â Dad snapped, though terror flickered in his eyes. âSheâs a survivor. Always has been.â
As he turned to leave, Victoria appeared in the doorway, instantly transforming her face into a mask of childlike concern.
âDaddy?â she said softly, eyes wide and innocent. âThat rescue puppy Iâve been fostering is doing so much better today! Heâs actually me to see him? It might cheer y âgging his tail and everything. Could you maybe come home with you up...â
Victoria had carefully crafted her animalârescuer persona to manipulate Dadâs affections.
But for once, he wasnât taking the bait.
âNot now, Victoria,â he said tersely.
Victoriaâs lower lip trembled perfectly on cue. âIs it about Valentina? Is she okay?â
Dad and Caspian both turned sharply toward her.
Victoria hesitated, tilting her head slightly. âI probably shouldnât say anything, but...â she paused dramatically. âI think I saw her getting into some guyâs car earlier. A black Audi? She seemed... really friendly with him.â
âThatâs complete bullshit,â Dad cut her off. âValentina has never given a damn about anything except ballet. She wouldnât go off with some random guy.â
Victoriaâs eyes widened with practiced innocence. âIâm just saying what I saw. You know how all the guys at Westbrook follow her around like puppies. Sheâs always had them wrapped around her finger.â
Caspian straightened his posture. âVal is friends with everyone because sheâs genuinely kindâunlike some people.â His voice hardened. âVictoria, Iâm warning you. Donât try to smear her reputation. Not now.â
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Chapter 5 Victoriaâs eyes instantly welled with pictureâperfect tears.
She sank to the floor in a graceful collapse, hugging her knees. âIâm so sorry,â she whispered. âI always say the wrong thing, donât I? I know Iâll never belong in Valentinaâs world.â
âSheâs your real daughterâthe true Dagonet princess. And Iâm just... your mistake. Your secret.â
âItâs okay though,â she continued, voice catching intentionally. âAs long as I have even a tiny corner of your heart, Daddy, thatâs enough for me. Iâd never try to take Valentinaâs place...â
Her voice dropped to a breathless whisper. âIf it would make things easier, I can disappear. Just say the word and youâll never have to see me again.â
But the rush of comfort and reassurance she expected never came.
After a painfully long silence, a nurse finally approached. âHoney, theyâre gone. Left a couple minutes ago.â
Victoriaâs head snapped up, her eyes darting around the empty room.
âAre you fucking kidding me?â
In an instant, her entire demeanor transformed. Her delicate features hardened into something cruel and calculating. âAfter everything that bitch has put us through, theyâre still running after her? Fine. Weâll see how they feel when Iâm the one missing.â
Victoria yanked out her phone and dialed rapidly. âShane. Itâs me.â
Her voice dropped an octave, all softness gone. âListen up. That job you did on Valentina? I need something similar, but this time Iâm the target. Double your usual rate.â
She paced the room like a predator. âYeah, you heard me right. I want you to âkidnapâ me. Make it look realâbruises, tears, the whole nine yards. Just donât touch my face or break anything. I need to dance next week.â
Shane was the ringleader who had tortured me.
âOne more thing,â Victoria continued, her voice iceâcold. âDuring the video, I need you to slip up and mention Valentinaâs name.
Make it seem like she hired you for revenge. Got it? Good. Tomorrow night. Donât fuck this up.â
94.39 Chapter 5 As she hung up, a twisted smile spread across her face. âThat prissy little ballet rat. Her mother stole my momâs rightful place for two decades.â
âThen Valentina spent her whole life taking what should have been mineâthe Dagonet name, the penthouse, Daddyâs precious attention.â
âWhen Iâm done, everyone will think Saint Valentina is a psychopath who tried to have her poor sister kidnapped. Sheâll never recover.â
Watching this security footage, I felt iceâcold rage course through my veins.
Victoria wasnât just manipulativeâshe was truly unhinged.
If she wanted war, Iâd give her one.
After collecting myself, I turned to the security officer. âI need a copy of this footage. All of it.â
âYes, maâam. Right away.â
With the flash drive in hand, I made multiple copies and had them couriered directly to Dadâs office, the family attorney, and the NYPD.
But I severely underestimated how quickly Victoria would put her plan into motion.
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