Victoria studied them calmly.
“Who sent you?”
“That’s not your concern.”
She let out a quiet laugh.
“It is… because you’re in my way.”
Moments later—
Both men were on the ground.
No one saw how it happened.
Victoria continued down the hallway until she reached a door.
Room 307.
Her hand trembled.
For the first time in years.
She opened it.
A small child lay in the bed.
Pale. Weak. Connected to machines.
But alive.
Her breath broke.
“My son…”
She moved closer, her fingers shaking as they touched his face.
Warm.
Real.
“Mom…” the boy whispered faintly.
Victoria fell to her knees.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
The tears she had held back for years finally came.
But then—
A voice cut through the moment.
“How touching.”
She froze.
Slowly… she turned.
Adrian stood in the doorway.
Clapping.
Smiling.
“I thought you’d find him sooner,” he said.
Victoria stood up, her expression turning cold again.
“It was you.”
“Of course,” he replied. “Did you really think I’d let them all die?”
Her voice shook with rage.
“You threw them into the river!”
“Yes,” he said calmly. “But one… was worth keeping.”
The silence was suffocating.
“Worth… keeping?”
He stepped closer to the bed.
“My blood. My heir.”
Victoria felt something inside her snap.