The Song That Exposed a Deadly Family Lie

Chapter 3: The House Behind the Church

Victor took Lily out through a side exit before the guests could surround them.

He did not care about the party anymore. He did not care about scandal. He ordered his driver to take them to the address Lily gave him: a small house behind an old church on the east side of the city.

Lily sat beside him in the car, holding a sandwich with both hands. She ate slowly, as if afraid someone might take it away.

Victor watched her and felt guilt like a physical weight.

"Did your mother ever speak about me?" he asked.

Lily nodded. "She said you had kind eyes before rich people taught you to hide them."

Victor almost laughed, but it came out broken.

"That sounds like her."

The house behind the church was dark except for one lamp in the window. Lily jumped out before the car fully stopped and ran to the door.

"Mom!"

Victor followed her inside.

The room was small and cold. A woman lay on a narrow bed near the wall, her hair streaked with gray, her face thin from sickness.

Victor stopped in the doorway.

Elena.

Alive.

Older. Weaker. But alive.

Her eyes opened.

When she saw him, tears filled them instantly.

"Victor," she whispered.

He crossed the room and fell to his knees beside her.

"I thought you died," he said.

"They made sure you would."

"Who?"

Elena looked toward Lily, then back at him. "Bellamy. And your brother."

Victor went still.

"My brother is dead."

Elena shook her head. "No. He used the hospital fire to disappear. He took your inheritance records, your company shares, and tried to take Lily too."

Victor's mind reeled.

His older brother, Marcus, had supposedly died six months after the fire in a boating accident.

Another lie.

Elena gripped Victor's hand weakly. "He wants Lily because your father left everything to your bloodline. Not to him."

A floorboard creaked outside.

Victor stood and turned toward the door.

A familiar voice came from the darkness.

"Still dramatic, Elena."

Victor's blood went cold.

Marcus stepped into the room, smiling.

"Hello, brother."