CHAPTER 17: The Turning Point
Victoria’s POV
The room had grown unbearably quiet after he left, my thoughts had started to scream in my mind and I just wished I could shut everything out.
I thought he was different. For a brief, fleeting moment, I had convinced myself that the arrogant man who saved my life might have been more than he seemed. But his confession shattered that illusion. Perhaps Lily was right; I was naive, I fell for people’s games too easily.
I stared at the ceiling, my mind churning, my heart aching, my head hurting, and my body trembling.
But as the minutes dragged on and the silence deepened, something inside me began to shift. The tears stopped falling, the pain dulled, and in its place, a cold, simmering anger took root.
They thought they could break me. They thought I would crumble under the weight of their lies and schemes.
I was still in the midst of this mental resolve when the door creaked open again. My head snapped toward the sound, expecting a nurse or doctor, but instead, he stepped back inside.
Why wouldn’t he leave?!
For a moment, I just stared at him, my eyes burning with fury. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his own eyes, determination maybe.
it.”
“I thought you left,” I said, my voice cold and flat.
He stepped closer, his movements hesitant, like someone approaching a wounded animal. “I did. But I came back.”
I sat up slightly, my body protesting the movement. “Why?”
He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair as he took a seat by my bedside again. “Because I owe you. I got you into this mess and I’m going to fix
I folded my arms across my chest, narrowing my eyes at him. “I don’t need you to fix anything.” I told him.
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t snap back. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I know.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
“You don’t need me to fix or do anything; you’re just fine on your own. You can be even better. You have leverage, power.”
I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because it doesn’t.”
“No,” he admitted, meeting my gaze. “But it’s why I came back. We both need this.”
I stiffened, my arms tightening around myself. I didn’t respond so he continued.
‘Ethan and Lily, what they’ve done to you, it’s unforgivable. They deserve to be exposed for who they really are.”
“And you want to be the one to expose them?” I asked, my tone laced with skepticism.
“Not me. You,” he said simply.
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
“You’re joking,” I said, my voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and anger.
“I’m serious,” he said, his tone firm. “But if you’re going to take them down, you need to do it the right way. You need evidence–solid, undeniable proof of what they’ve done. And you need to be willing to go public with it.”
I stared at him, my mind racing. “You think I should give an interview? Air all of this out for the world to see?”
“It’s the only way to ensure they don’t get away with this,” he said. “You’re not just fighting them–you’re fighting their money, their influence. If you want justice, you need to make sure the world is watching.”
1/2
3:48 PM
CHAPTER 17 The Turning Point
I shook my head, my hands gripping the blanket tightly. “No. I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” he pressed, his brow furrowing. “If it’s about embarrassment or fear of backlash—”
“It’s not,” I snapped, cutting him off. I was done with that now.
He looked taken aback, and I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions.
“It’s not about embarrassment,” I repeated, my voice calmer now. It’s about control.”
‘Control?” he echoed, his confusion evident.
“Yes,” I said, my gaze steady. “For so long, I’ve been at their mercy. Ethan’s lies, Lily’s betrayal, and now your manipulation maybe. I’ve been nothing but a pawn in everyone else’s game.”
His eyes softened, but I pressed on.
“I won’t let that happen again,” I said firmly. “I won’t give them the satisfaction of thinking they still have power over me. And I won’t let you or anyone else dictate how I fight back.”
He leaned back in his chair, studying me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. “So, what’s your plan?”
I didn’t answer right away, the silence stretching between us as I gathered my thoughts.
“I don’t know yet,” I admitted finally. “But I’ll figure it out. And when I do, Ethan and Lily will regret ever crossing me.”
There was a flicker of something in his eyes–admiration, maybe? But he quickly masked it, nodding slowly.
“Fair enough,” he said, standing. “But if you change your mind, my offer still stands.”
I didn’t respond, watching as he walked to the door. Just before he left, he turned back to me, his expression unreadable.
“Your strength is commendable, Victoria,” he said.
And then he was gone.
For a long time, I just sat there, staring at the closed door. His words echoed in my mind, but I refused to dwell on them.
I wasn’t strong. Not yet. But I would be.
I would take back control of my life. And when the time came, I would make Ethan and Lily pay for everything they’d done.
They thought I was weak. They thought I was broken.
They had no idea what I was capable of.
