Chapter 9 - THE LAST BETRAYAL

Victor locked down the mansion.

Every employee was questioned.

Every device inspected.

Every security credential frozen.

Serena watched suspicion poison the house.

Chef Maria.

The gardeners.

Drivers.

Guards.

Even Dominic.

Victor trusted nobody.

Then Serena noticed something.

Carlo had wanted exactly this.

“Stop.”

Victor looked at her.

“What?”

“He's dividing you.”

“He said the killer is here.”

“He said someone responsible is inside your house. That's not necessarily the same thing.”

Victor frowned.

Serena examined Isabella's records again.

One employee had appeared repeatedly.

Dr. Samuel Crane.

The family physician.

He had treated Isabella.

He had signed medical paperwork after her crash.

And he had visited the mansion three times since Serena arrived.

Victor called him.

No answer.

They searched his office.

Empty.

Then Lucia screamed upstairs.

Serena ran.

The quadruplets' room was empty.

A window stood open.

On the bed lay a note.

THE LEDGER FOR THE BOYS. MIDNIGHT. COME ALONE.

Serena nearly collapsed.

Victor became terrifyingly calm.

Dominic mobilized every resource.

Security footage revealed Dr. Crane leaving through the service tunnel with the boys.

He had sedated them.

Victor wanted to storm the location identified in the note.

Serena stopped him.

“He expects you.”

“He has my sons.”

“And he wants you angry.”

Victor turned.

“What would you do if it were Lucia?”

Serena's eyes filled with tears.

“Exactly what you're doing. That's why I'm telling you it's wrong.”

Silence.

They built another plan.

The ledger was copied.

Federal agents were alerted.

Serena insisted on going.

“No.”

“Your boys trust me.”

“This isn't a dinner challenge.”

“I know.”

“Serena—”

“If they wake up frightened, I can keep them calm.”

Victor stared at her.

“You could die.”

“So could they.”

At midnight, Serena walked into an abandoned Bellweather children's center carrying the ledger.

Victor's team remained hidden.

Dr. Crane stood beneath a broken fluorescent light.

The boys were behind him, tied but awake.

“Serena!” Nico cried.

“I'm here.”

Crane smiled.

“The famous nanny.”

“I'm less impressive without pancakes.”

“Ledger.”

“Children first.”

“You don't negotiate.”

“I've been negotiating with four six-year-olds for two weeks. You're easier.”

Matteo almost smiled.

Crane didn't.

He revealed his motive.

He had been part of the Bellweather scheme for twenty years.

He falsified medical evaluations that helped manipulate placements.

Isabella discovered his records.

Antonio copied them.

Carlo ordered the crash.

Crane altered Isabella's toxicology report afterward.

“You killed her.”

“No.”

Crane smiled.

“Carlo killed her. I made sure nobody looked too closely.”

Serena's hidden microphone transmitted everything.

Then Crane noticed it.

He struck the device away.

Victor moved.

Too soon.

Gunfire shattered a window.

Dominic's team entered.

Crane grabbed Nico and pulled him toward a rear door.

Serena moved without thinking.

She threw the ledger into a burning trash barrel.

Crane screamed.

“No!”

He released Nico.

That was the point.

Serena grabbed the boy.

Victor tackled Crane.

Dominic disarmed him.

Within seconds, it ended.

No dramatic execution.

No revenge.

Police took Crane alive.

Victor stood breathing heavily.

He could have killed him.

Everyone knew it.

He didn't.

Later, Nico clung to Serena.

“You burned Grandpa Antonio's book.”

She whispered, “Copy.”

Nico blinked.

“You tricked him?”

“Yes.”

His eyes widened with admiration.

“You're scarier than Dad.”

Victor overheard.

“Wonderful.”

Back home, the boys refused to sleep alone.

All five children built a fortress of blankets in the family room.

Serena stayed with them.

At 2:00 a.m., Victor found her asleep on the floor with Nico's head on her shoulder, Lucia against her side, and three boys scattered around her.

He covered Serena with a blanket.

Her eyes opened.

“Are they okay?”

“Yes.”

“You?”

Victor sat beside her.

“No.”

She waited.

“I almost became my father tonight.”

“But you didn't.”

“I wanted to kill Crane.”

“Wanting isn't doing.”

Victor looked at her.

“Isabella would've liked you.”

Serena smiled faintly.

“I think I would've liked her.”

Victor's eyes filled.

“I miss her.”

“I know.”

“And somehow that doesn't make what I feel for you disappear.”

Serena became still.

Victor continued.

“I don't know when it happened.”

“I do.”

“When?”

“When I told you your children needed the table moved and you actually moved it.”

He laughed softly.

Serena's smile faded.

“But I'm not replacing her.”

“I would never ask you to.”

“And you're not rescuing me.”

“I know.”

“I need my own life. My own work. My own choices.”

“I know.”

“Stop saying you know.”

“I don't know what else to say.”

She looked at him.

“Say what you mean.”

Victor was silent.

Then the man who had negotiated with criminals, politicians, billionaires, and enemies said the simplest words of his life.

“I love you.”

Serena's eyes filled.

From beneath the blanket fortress, Matteo's voice appeared.

“We heard that.”

Victor closed his eyes.

Serena laughed.

Then four heads appeared.

Lucia sat up too.

“This is inappropriate,” Victor muttered.

“Are you kissing?” Luca asked.

“No.”

“Why?”

“Go to sleep.”

Serena laughed until tears ran down her face.

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