Chapter 3: Eleven Seconds
Victor's thumb moved across the screen.
The first clip was eleven seconds long.
Ethan was in his high chair.
Serena stood behind him, out of frame except for her hands.
She leaned forward and flicked the side of his head — once, twice — hard enough that his small body rocked.
When he started to cry, she covered his mouth with her palm and held it there until the crying stopped.
Eleven seconds.
Victor set the phone down on the table.
He didn't look at Serena.
He looked at Lily.
"How many clips?"
Lily's voice was steady.
"Fourteen.
Over six weeks."
"Why didn't you come to me sooner?"
"I tried, Mr.
Blackwood.
Twice." She paused.
"Both times, Miss Serena was in the room with you when I called."
Victor turned to look at Serena then.
Slowly.
The way a man turns when he is no longer deciding what he thinks.
Serena had moved to the far side of the room.
Her arms were crossed.
Her chin was up.
"This is fabricated," she said.
"That phone could have been edited by anyone.
You know what she is?
She's obsessed with you.
She's been trying to get rid of me since the beginning."
"Lily." Victor didn't raise his voice.
"Is there anything else?"
Lily shifted Ethan against her shoulder.
The baby had gone quiet, one fist curled around the collar of her uniform.
"The dates and times are embedded in the file metadata," she said.
"I didn't edit anything.
I don't know how."
Rosa stepped forward from the doorway.
"I can confirm two of those dates, sir.
I was in the kitchen.
I heard him crying.
I heard Miss Serena tell him to shut up." Her voice broke on the last word.
"I should have done something sooner.
I'm sorry."
"You did something now," Victor said quietly.
Serena dropped her arms.
"Victor.
Listen to me.
These women have conspired against me.
This is what jealousy looks like.
You built an empire — you know how people try to tear down what they can't have."
Victor walked to the side table and picked up his phone.
"I'm calling my attorney."
"For what?" Serena's voice climbed.
"For listening to a nanny and a housekeeper over me?"
"For a lot of reasons." He pressed dial.
"Don't leave the house, Serena."
The color left her face.
"You can't tell me what to do."
"I'm not telling you." He turned away.
"I'm asking you, once, to stay."
The call connected.
He walked toward the hallway.
Serena stood in the center of the room, the chandelier light catching the diamonds at her throat.
Rosa had her eyes on the floor.
Lily had her eyes on Serena.
Ethan made a small sound — not a cry, just a breath — and pressed his face into Lily's neck.
Serena watched the baby do it.
Something moved across her face.
It was gone before anyone could name it.
Then her hand went to her bag on the side chair.
Lily saw it first.
"Mr.
Blackwood," she called toward the hallway.
Her voice was calm.
"She's picking up her bag."
Victor's footsteps stopped.
He came back to the doorway.
Serena's fingers were already around the strap.
"I'm getting my lip balm," she said.
"Is that a crime now?"
May you like
But her eyes weren't on her bag.
They were on the phone still sitting on the table.
