Chapter 2
The hospital confirmed a small fracture near Ethan’s elbow.
Not severe.
Painful enough that a three-year-old would naturally protect the arm.
The doctor explained that the injury was consistent with a forceful pull, fall, or twisting motion.
Victor asked whether the dragging he witnessed could have caused it.
“Possibly,” the physician said. “But I can't date the fracture to the minute.”
That mattered.
Serena could still claim Lily caused the original injury.
Lily could still say Ethan was hurt before she entered.
Victor sat beside his son while a nurse fitted the temporary splint.
Ethan refused to talk about the nursery.
He did say one thing when Victor asked whether Lily scared him.
“No.”
Then Serena’s name came up.
Ethan turned his face away.
Victor stopped asking.
Back at the penthouse, Lily packed a small overnight bag.
Victor found her in the staff corridor.
“What are you doing?”
“Leaving.”
“You didn't hurt him.”
“You don't know that yet.”
“I know my son.”
Lily looked at him.
“Do you?”
The question stung.
Victor said nothing.
Lily lowered her voice.
“Serena has been telling you for months that Ethan acts differently because I encourage him.”
Victor remembered.
Lily makes him dependent.
Lily doesn't give Serena room.
Lily keeps treating Grace like she's still in the house.
Serena had said each sentence calmly.
Never cruelly.
Victor had listened.
“I thought you two were competing over him.”
“We weren’t.”
Lily zipped the bag.
“She was trying to get me out.”
“Why?”
Lily finally looked frightened.
“I don't know.”
Victor did not let her leave.
Not as an order.
He asked her to stay in the guest suite until the camera review and medical timeline were complete.
Lily agreed only because Ethan woke asking for her.
That night Victor sat alone in his office.
The engagement reception downstairs had been canceled.
Guests were gone.
Gifts remained stacked against walls.
At 1:12 a.m., the security supervisor called.
“We found out who disabled the nursery camera.”
Victor already suspected the answer.
May you like
He was wrong.
The access code belonged to him.
