Chapter 10 - The Man Behind Victor
Marcus Hale was supposed to be missing.
By morning, Sophie knew better.
A traffic camera captured him leaving Chicago in Mason’s SUV.
Adrian placed the photograph beside the ledgers.
“Marcus built the legal structures.”
Sophie nodded.
“He created the shell companies.”
“He wrote the restructuring agreement.”
“And Victor took the public risk.”
Adrian leaned back.
“Which means if Victor fell, Marcus could replace him.”
Sophie remembered Grace’s diary.
Someone Charles trusted.
Marcus had been Charles’s attorney.
Friend.
Adviser.
Executor of his estate.
The perfect person.
Eleanor entered.
When she saw the photograph, she whispered:
“Oh, Charles.”
Adrian looked at her.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because Marcus stayed close after Charles died.”
“So?”
“He managed your trust.”
Adrian froze.
Eleanor continued.
“He knew where you went to school. Your doctors. Your travel schedules. Everything.”
Adrian’s anger disappeared.
“You were afraid he would hurt me.”
“Yes.”
Sophie looked at Eleanor differently.
For years Eleanor had looked like a wealthy woman who controlled everything.
Now Sophie saw the prison hidden inside that control.
“Why didn’t Marcus kill Grace?”
Eleanor answered softly.
“Because he never found what Thomas hid.”
Sophie looked at the cassette.
“He needed her alive.”
“Until he was certain.”
Adrian paced.
“Then why target Sophie now?”
Sophie answered.
“Because I came back.”
Silence.
She had applied to Blackwood Manor six months earlier.
Not because she knew the past.
Because the pay was good.
Because the mansion needed housekeeping staff.
Because life sometimes built traps out of coincidence.
Marcus must have seen her surname.
Bennett.
He began watching.
Waiting.
Then Sophie found the key.
Everything accelerated.
Adrian’s phone rang.
An investigator had located Bianca.
Alive.
She had walked into a suburban police station.
No shoes.
Bruised wrists.
Terrified.
But alive.
They met her at the hospital.
Bianca cried when Sophie entered.
“I’m sorry.”
Sophie remained near the door.
“What happened?”
“Mason took me.”
“Victor?”
Bianca shook her head.
“Marcus.”
Adrian leaned forward.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why release you?”
“He didn’t.”
Bianca looked at Sophie.
“I escaped.”
“How?”
“Mason got careless.”
Bianca swallowed.
“They were arguing.”
“About what?”
“Victor.”
Adrian frowned.
“What about him?”
“Victor wants out.”
The room went still.
Bianca continued.
“He told Marcus he wouldn’t destroy Adrian.”
Sophie stared.
“Victor suddenly developed a conscience?”
“No.”
Bianca shook her head.
“He’s scared.”
“Of Marcus?”
“Yes.”
She reached beneath the hospital blanket.
Produced a small voice recorder.
“I stole this from Mason.”
Adrian pressed play.
Victor’s voice filled the room.
“You said Charles would be the last.”
Marcus answered.
“And you believed me?”
Victor:
“Grace survived. Celeste died. Thomas died. Charles died. Now you want the girl too?”
Sophie’s heart stopped.
Marcus replied calmly:
“If Sophie Bennett has Thomas’s evidence, she becomes the last.”
The recording ended.
Bianca looked at Sophie.
“You were never the scapegoat.”
May you like
Sophie stared at her.
“You were the target.”
