Chapter 5: The Monster Behind the Mask

Serena waited inside the old Blackwood family estate.

The place had been abandoned for years.

She knew Victor would come.

Because she knew him.

Or at least she thought she did.

Ethan sat safely in another room, watched by someone Serena trusted.

She wasn’t trying to hurt him.

Not yet.

She wanted something bigger.

She wanted Victor to understand pain.

“You took everything from me,” she whispered.

The door opened.

Victor stepped inside.

Alone.

Exactly as she expected.

Serena smiled.

“You came.””

Victor looked around.

“Where is my son?””

“You don’t even say hello?””

“Where is Ethan?””

Her smile faded.

“There he is.””

The old Serena returned.

The elegant woman.

The perfect woman.

The victim.

“You never understood me.””

Victor stared.

“No.””

She laughed softly.

“You think I’m a monster.””

“You hurt my son.””

“You destroyed my sister.””

Victor’s expression changed slightly.

“Amelia.””

Serena froze.

“How do you know that name?””

“Because I finally started looking.””

For the first time, Serena looked afraid.

Victor continued.

“I know about your obsession.””

“You don’t know anything.””

“I know you researched my family before meeting me.””

Silence.

“I know you planned your relationship with me.””

Serena’s breathing changed.

“I know you used my son as a weapon.””

She stepped back.

“You think you’re innocent?””

Victor said nothing.

“You rich people always think money makes you good.””

“My money didn’t hurt Ethan.””

Her eyes flashed.

“My sister died because of people like you.””

Victor’s voice lowered.

“And that gives you the right to torture a child?””

Serena looked away.

For a moment, something almost human appeared.

Then it disappeared.

“You love him.””

“Yes.””

“That’s why this works.””

She smiled.

“Because losing him will break you.””

Victor looked at her.

“You still don’t understand.””

“What?””

“I already lost something.””

Serena frowned.

“My trust.””

The door behind Victor opened.

Marco entered with police officers.

Serena’s face changed.

“You lied.””

Victor shook his head.

“No.””

He held up a small device.

“You did.””

Her eyes widened.

“The recorder?””

“The one you planted.””

Victor stepped closer.

“You wanted evidence against me.””

He pressed a button.

Serena’s own voice filled the room.

Every confession.

Every threat.

Every cruel word.

Her face turned white.

Then a small voice came from the hallway.

“Daddy.””

Victor turned.

Ethan stood there.

Alive.

Safe.

Victor rushed to him.

Serena watched.

And for the first time, she understood.

She had spent years trying to destroy Victor Blackwood.

But she had underestimated the one thing stronger than his anger.

His love.

As police escorted her away, Serena screamed:

“You’ll never know the whole truth!””

Victor stopped.

He looked back.

“What truth?””

Serena smiled through her tears.

“The person who started all of this…”

She laughed.

“Wasn’t me.””

Victor froze.

Because on the floor beside Serena’s chair was a photograph.

A photograph of Ethan.

Taken years before Serena ever entered his life.

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