Chapter 15 - The Fire on the Executive Floor
The fire destroyed one office and filled the floor with smoke, but sprinklers contained it before it reached the servers.
Martin Shaw vanished during the evacuation.
His car remained in the garage.
His phone was found inside a trash bin.
Victor stood outside the building watching firefighters work.
“He planned this.”
Marcus nodded. “And he had help.”
Clara stayed at the mansion with Ethan under police protection.
That evening, she found something taped beneath the nursery rocking chair.
A tiny voice recorder.
She almost screamed.
Marcus came immediately.
The recorder contained hours of nursery audio.
Most was ordinary: lullabies, crying, Clara reading picture books.
Then came a conversation between Serena and Martin Shaw.
Martin’s voice said, “Once Victor signs the marriage papers, Helena can move.”
Serena answered, “And Clara?”
“Gone.”
“What if Victor won’t fire her?”
“Then we make him.”
Serena asked, “What about the child?”
Martin replied, “A minor injury will help the guardianship petition.”
Clara felt sick.
The foyer attack had not been planned exactly as it happened.
But hurting Ethan had always been part of the strategy.
Victor listened to the recording twice.
Then a final clip played.
It was Naomi’s voice.
Older recording. Different date.
She said, “Martin, if you’re working with Helena, tell me now.”
Martin answered, “You should stop asking questions.”
Victor stared at the device.
The recorder had belonged to Naomi.
Someone had hidden it in the nursery after her death.
Clara whispered, “Who put it there?”
Ethan, playing with blocks nearby, looked up.
“Grandma.”
Victor froze.
“My mother?”
Ethan nodded.
“Grandma hide.”
Victor’s mother, Margaret Blackwood, had died six months after Naomi.
Or so everyone believed.
May you like
Marcus looked at Victor.
“Victor… your mother’s death certificate came through a private clinic Helena controlled.”
