Chapter 16 — The Enemy’s Final Move
Chapter 16 — The Enemy’s Final Move
The sound of Victoria Whitmore’s voice disappeared from the speakers.
But the damage was already done.
Everyone inside Hawthorne Palace stood frozen.
The same question crossed every person’s mind.
How long had Victoria been controlling this?
Alexander looked toward Marcus.
Then toward Thomas.
Then toward the security system.
His expression was no longer confused.
It was determined.
“Lock down the palace.”
Marcus immediately reached for his radio.
But nothing happened.
The device was dead.
He looked at it in disbelief.
“The system isn’t responding.”
Alexander stared at him.
“Can you restore it?”
Marcus shook his head.
“Not from here.”
Thomas looked around.
“She planned this.”
Alexander nodded.
“She wanted us trapped.”
In the security room, the monitors suddenly turned on.
Every screen displayed the same image.
Victoria Whitmore sitting in her office.
She looked calm.
Almost amused.
“Hello, Alexander.”
His jaw tightened.
“Victoria.”
“Finally, we can speak without pretending.”
“You broke into my home.”
Victoria smiled.
“Your home?”
She laughed softly.
“That’s what you still don’t understand.”
The screen changed.
Old photographs appeared.
Documents.
Records.
Memories from years ago.
“The Hawthorne name was built on secrets.”
Alexander stared at the images.
“What do you want?”
Victoria leaned closer to the camera.
“I want everyone to know who you really are.”
Thomas stepped forward.
“Stop hiding behind screens.”
Victoria looked at him.
“Thomas.”
Her smile faded.
“You were always the problem.”
Thomas’s expression hardened.
“Why?”
“Because you cared about the truth.”
A pause.
“And people who care about the truth are dangerous.”
Victoria revealed the first document.
A company agreement from years ago.
“This was the beginning.”
She looked at the screen.
“Your father and mine worked together.”
Edward stepped forward.
“That agreement was meant to protect the company.”
Victoria laughed.
“That’s the story you told yourself.”
Edward’s expression changed.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying your father made a deal.”
Everyone looked at Edward.
Victoria continued.
“A deal that gave my family power over parts of the Hawthorne empire.”
Alexander turned toward his father.
“Is that true?”
Edward remained silent.
And that silence hurt more than any answer.
“Dad?”
Edward finally spoke.
“It’s not what you think.”
Alexander shook his head.
“That is exactly what everyone says when they’re hiding something.”
Edward looked devastated.
“I made a mistake.”
Victoria smiled.
“There it is.”
She turned back to the camera.
“The great Edward Hawthorne admitting he wasn’t perfect.”
Thomas looked angry.
“You’re twisting the story.”
“Am I?”
Victoria showed another document.
“This proves Edward signed control agreements with my father.”
Edward looked at the paper.
“That document was supposed to be destroyed.”
Victoria smiled.
“But I kept a copy.”
Clara watched Alexander carefully.
She could see the pain behind his anger.
For years, Alexander had believed his father was a hero.
Now every memory was being questioned.
She stepped closer.
“Mr. Hawthorne.”
He looked at her.
“Not everything someone shows you is the whole truth.”
Her words reminded him of something.
The person controlling this situation wanted exactly this.
Division.
Doubt.
Fear.
Victoria wanted them to destroy each other.
Thomas walked toward the screen.
“You want revenge.”
Victoria’s expression changed.
“Yes.”
“Because of your father?”
“Because of all of you.”
Thomas shook his head.
“You blame innocent people for someone else’s choices.”
Victoria’s smile disappeared.
“You disappeared for twelve years and still think you understand everything.”
Thomas answered calmly.
“I understand one thing.”
“What?”
“You’re angry because you lost control.”
The words hit a nerve.
Victoria’s face hardened.
Suddenly, Sarah spoke.
“There’s something you don’t know.”
Everyone turned.
She looked at Victoria through the screen.
“Richard Whitmore never trusted you.”
Victoria froze.
“What?”
Sarah opened another folder.
“I worked with Thomas. I found the original records.”
She placed documents on the table.
“Your father was planning to remove you from the company.”
Victoria’s expression changed.
“That’s a lie.”
“No.”
Sarah looked at her.
“He considered you too reckless.”
For the first time, Victoria looked shaken.
“You’re lying.”
Sarah continued.
“He wanted control, not revenge.”
The confidence on Victoria’s face began to crack.
Alexander noticed.
Victoria had spent the entire time trying to control the narrative.
But this was different.
This was personal.
“You didn’t do this for your father.”
Victoria looked at him.
“You did it because you felt abandoned.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Don’t pretend you understand me.”
“No.”
Alexander looked at her.
“But I understand pain.”
The room became quiet.
“You lost someone and blamed everyone else.”
Victoria said nothing.
Because for a moment, Alexander had reached something she tried to hide.
Then suddenly…
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Everyone turned.
Marcus checked the security feed.
His face changed.
“Someone entered the palace.”
Alexander looked at him.
“Who?”
Marcus stared at the screen.
Then slowly answered:
“It’s not an intruder.”
A pause.
“It’s one of our employees.”
Everyone froze.
Clara looked confused.
“Who?”
Marcus zoomed in.
The camera showed a person walking through the entrance.
Someone wearing a palace uniform.
Someone they all knew.
Someone who had been there the entire time.
Alexander whispered:
“No…”
May you like
Because the final piece of Victoria’s plan had arrived.
And the person walking toward them was the last person anyone expected.
