Chapter 3 - THE FIANCÉE WHO DIDN'T CRY
Victoria Bellamy arrived at the library twenty minutes later.
She wore a cream silk dress and diamond earrings that probably cost more than my annual salary.
Her dark hair was perfectly arranged.
Her makeup hadn't moved.
She looked irritated.
Not frightened.
“What is going on, Dominic?” she demanded.
“Ethan could have died.”
Victoria glanced toward me.
“I heard.”
Dominic studied her.
“That's all?”
She crossed her arms.
“What would you like me to do? Scream?”
I lowered my eyes.
I wasn't supposed to judge the woman who would soon become mistress of the house.
But I had watched Ethan try to win Victoria's affection for months.
He brought her drawings.
Asked her to read with him.
Once, he spent an entire afternoon making a paper crown because she had called herself his future queen.
She laughed at the crown.
Then left it on the dining table.
The next morning, I found it in the trash.
Ethan never mentioned it again.
Dominic turned toward Vincent.
“Tell Victoria what Lily saw.”
Vincent explained the silver falcon.
Victoria's expression changed for less than a second.
Then she laughed.
“That's ridiculous.”
Dominic didn't smile.
“Is it?”
“Half the Bellamy employees wear those pins.”
“Exactly.”
She stepped closer.
“Are you accusing my family?”
“I'm asking questions.”
Victoria looked toward me.
Then Lily.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Perhaps the little girl misunderstood.”
I felt my shoulders stiffen.
Dominic noticed.
“Lily described the man before anyone mentioned the Bellamys.”
Victoria gave a thin smile.
“She's three.”
“And she saved my son.”
Victoria looked away.
Dominic stepped toward her.
“Where were you when the cake was brought into the ballroom?”
“In the powder room.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“Can anyone confirm that?”
Victoria's face reddened.
“Dominic, this is insulting.”
He said nothing.
She stared at him.
Then turned toward the door.
“I won't be interrogated in my own future home.”
She left.
The door slammed behind her.
I stood.
“Mr. Moretti, Lily and I should go.”
Dominic turned.
“Not tonight.”
My stomach tightened.
“Sir—”
“Someone knows your daughter witnessed what happened.”
“I understand that.”
“Then you understand why leaving without a safety plan could be dangerous.”
I held Lily closer.
“She's my daughter. I decide where she goes.”
Dominic looked at me for a long moment.
Then nodded.
“You're right.”
His voice softened.
“I'll arrange protection if you want it. But I won't keep you here against your will.”
That surprised me.
Men like Dominic weren't accustomed to hearing no.
Yet he had accepted mine.
“Could we stay in the guest cottage?” I asked.
“It has a separate entrance.”
“Yes.”
“And I want to call my sister.”
“Of course.”
I nodded.
“Then we'll stay tonight.”
Dominic looked relieved.
But before I left, he said something I couldn't forget.
“Grace, there is something you should know about Victoria.”
I stopped.
“What?”
He looked toward the closed library door.
“Our engagement wasn't a love match.”
I stared.
“It was supposed to end a war between two families.”
May you like
He paused.
“And tonight, someone may have decided that peace was no longer profitable.”
