Chapter 9 - Serena Makes a CallSerena Montigue did not cry in jail.
She saved tears for audiences.
Inside the private holding room her father’s attorneys had secured, she sat with perfect posture in yesterday’s cream dress, her hair still smooth, her makeup still flawless except for the faint darkness beneath her eyes.
Across from her, Conrad Montigue looked older than he had twenty-four hours ago.
That infuriated her.
“You said this would be handled,” Serena said.
Conrad’s jaw tightened. “And it will be.”
“I was handcuffed.”
“You were careless.”
Her eyes flashed.
“I was provoked by that girl.”
“You injured Victor Blackwood’s son on camera.”
Serena leaned forward.
“He cried for her every time I entered a room.”
“He is a baby.”
“He was supposed to become mine.”
Conrad stared at his daughter.
For the first time, even he seemed unsettled by the emptiness behind her words.
Serena noticed.
She smiled coldly.
“Don’t look at me like that. You raised me to win.”
“I raised you not to lose control in front of cameras.”
The slap of truth landed between them.
Serena looked away first.
Her attorney cleared his throat.
“The immediate priority is bail and controlling public narrative. We can argue emotional distress, accidental injury, misinterpretation of footage—”
“The footage shows what it shows,” Conrad snapped.
The attorney fell silent.
Serena’s fingers drummed once on the table.
“Then we change the subject.”
Conrad studied her.
“To what?”
“The nanny.”
“We already tried.”
“Not enough.” Serena’s smile returned. “People don’t need proof to hate a woman. They need a story.”
The attorney looked uncomfortable.
Serena continued.
“Poor girl enters wealthy home. Becomes obsessed with baby. Thinks she is better than the future wife. Has secret criminal brother. Lies about everything.”
Conrad’s expression sharpened.
“You know about Caleb Harper?”
Serena’s gaze slid to him.
“You knew before I did.”
“That was not your concern.”
“You brought Lily into Victor’s house.”
Conrad did not answer.
Serena laughed softly.
“My God. You did.”
The attorney looked between them.
Conrad’s voice dropped.
“Lily Harper was supposed to be monitored quietly. She was not supposed to become important.”
“She became important because Ethan loved her.” Serena’s face twisted. “Because Victor looked at her like she was pure.”
“Victor looked at her because you behaved like a fool.”
Serena stood so quickly her chair scraped back.
“Do not call me a fool.”
Conrad did not flinch.
“Sit down.”
“No.”
The attorney rose. “Ms. Montigue—”
Serena turned on him. “Get out.”
He looked to Conrad.
Conrad nodded once.
The attorney left.
When the door closed, Serena leaned over the table.
“Where is Caleb?”
Conrad’s face hardened.
“Alive enough to be useful.”
Serena inhaled.
So Lily’s brother was alive.
The knowledge moved through her like a weapon sliding into her hand.
“Give him to me.”
“No.”
“I can fix this.”
“You have done enough.”
Serena’s eyes burned.
“You think you can control this without me? Victor will dig. He will find the agency, the foundation, the shipments, the witnesses. He will find everything because that little nanny cried in his arms and made him feel human.”
Conrad’s expression shifted.
There it was.
The thing both of them feared.
Victor Blackwood with a reason.
Before Serena could say more, the door opened.
Detective Ellison entered.
Conrad stood.
“This meeting is privileged.”
“Not anymore,” Ellison said. “Ms. Montigue requested a phone call. I’m here to make sure procedure is followed.”
Serena smiled.
“Yes. I’d like to call my fiancé.”
Detective Ellison’s face remained flat.
“You mean your former fiancé?”
Serena’s smile tightened.
“Victor is emotional right now.”
“No,” Ellison said. “Victor is a father right now.”
Serena picked up the phone.
Her call went through on the third ring.
Victor answered from the hospital hallway.
“Why are you calling?”
His voice contained nothing.
No love.
No anger.
No confusion.
Nothing.
That frightened Serena more than rage would have.
“Victor,” she whispered. “Please don’t let them do this to me.”
Silence.
“I made a mistake,” she continued. “I was overwhelmed. Ethan kept crying. Lily kept interfering. I never meant—”
“Do not say his name.”
Serena’s hand tightened around the receiver.
“He was going to be my son too.”
“No.”
The word cut clean.
Serena’s eyes filled on command.
“I loved you.”
Victor replied, “You loved the door my name opened.”
“That’s not fair.”
“You hurt my child.”
“I was trying to teach him—”
She stopped.
Too late.
Victor heard it.
Detective Ellison heard it.
Conrad closed his eyes.
Victor’s voice dropped.
“Teach him what, Serena?”
She swallowed.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“What lesson did a fourteen-month-old need from you?”
Serena said nothing.
Victor continued.
“Here is the only lesson left. You will never enter my home again. You will never see my son again. You will never speak Lily Harper’s name again unless it is under oath.”
Serena’s mask shattered.
“She is using you!”
Victor’s voice remained calm.
“No. She saved what you tried to break.”
Serena’s breathing quickened.
“You don’t know what she is.”
“I know exactly what she is.”
“What?”
Victor looked through the glass at Lily sleeping beside Ethan’s bed.
“She is the person my son reached for when he was afraid.”
Serena’s mouth twisted.
“And what am I?”
Victor’s answer came without hesitation.
“The reason he was afraid.”
The line went dead.
Serena slowly lowered the phone.
Detective Ellison stepped forward.
“Interesting call.”
Serena looked at her.
“Get out.”
Ellison smiled faintly.
“Gladly.”
When she left, Conrad remained still, eyes fixed on his daughter.
“You just made their case stronger.”
Serena wiped one tear from her cheek, calm returning piece by piece.
“No,” she said softly. “I just learned what Victor cares about most.”
Conrad frowned.
“Ethan?”
Serena smiled.
May you like
“Lily.”
And for the first time since the handcuffs clicked around her wrists, Serena Montigue began to plan.
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