Lucas paced the dimly lit office, his mind racing. The recent threats, the tracker found in the hospital, and the cryptic messages all pointed to one undeniable conclusion—someone within his circle was working against him. It wasn't just Victoria pulling the strings anymore. This betrayal was closer than he ever imagined.
Amelia entered the room, her face pale but determined. She carried the twins close to her chest, refusing to leave their side since the attack. "Lucas, we can't keep living like this. We need answers, and we need them now."
He turned to her, his jaw clenched. "I know. That's why I've called everyone here. Whoever the traitor is, they won't leave this room without being exposed."
As if on cue, the office door opened, and Martin stepped in, followed by Michael and two other trusted members of Lucas's inner circle. They all exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in the room palpable.
Lucas didn't waste time. "There's a traitor among us," he said bluntly. "One of you has been feeding information to Victoria, putting my family and my business at risk. I want the truth, and I want it now."
The room fell silent. Michael shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact, while Martin crossed his arms, his expression unreadable.
"Lucas," Martin finally spoke, "you've known us for years. None of us would betray you. Are you sure this isn't some ploy by Victoria to divide us?"
Amelia stepped forward, her voice steady but cold. "There's no mistake. Someone leaked information about the hospital. Someone placed that tracker. And someone knew exactly when to strike."
Michael cleared his throat. "If you're accusing me, you're wasting your time. I've been loyal to this family since day one."
Lucas's eyes narrowed. "Loyalty doesn't mean anything if you've been bought."
Michael glared at him but didn't respond.
Amelia pulled out her phone and placed it on the table. "We tracked the device to a burner phone. The phone made two calls in the last 24 hours. One to Victoria and the other…" She looked around the room, her eyes settling on Martin. "...to you."
All eyes turned to Martin, who stood frozen.
"That's impossible," Martin said, his voice shaking. "I don't know anything about this."
Lucas slammed his fist on the table. "Stop lying! The evidence is right here. Why, Martin? After everything we've been through, why would you do this?"
Martin's face turned red as he stammered, "I didn't betray you. Someone must have cloned my number or framed me!"
Amelia stepped closer. "Prove it. If you're innocent, help us find the real traitor."
Before Martin could respond, the office door burst open, and Victoria herself walked in, flanked by two armed men.
"Bravo," she said with a slow clap. "A real family drama. You should consider making it into a soap opera."
Lucas moved to shield Amelia and the twins. "What are you doing here, Victoria?"
Victoria smirked. "I'm here to finish what I started. And it seems I have a little help, don't I, Martin?"
Martin's face fell, his silence confirming everyone's worst fears.
Amelia gasped. "You… it was you all along."
Martin shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. "It's not what you think. She forced me! She has my family. I didn't have a choice!"
Lucas's anger boiled over. "You always have a choice. You could have come to me, told me the truth. Instead, you endangered my family and betrayed everything we built."
Victoria chuckled. "Touching, really. But enough of this. Lucas, hand over the files I need, and I'll leave you and your little family alone."
Lucas laughed bitterly. "You think I'd believe that?"
Victoria shrugged. "Believe what you want. But if you don't cooperate, I'll destroy everything you love, starting with him." She gestured to Martin.
Amelia stepped forward. "We're not giving you anything, Victoria. You've already taken too much from us."
Victoria's smile faded. "Brave words, Amelia. But bravery won't save you." Her voice was cold, every syllable laced with menace. She took a slow step forward, her heels clicking against the polished floor, echoing ominously in the tense silence of the room.
Amelia tightened her grip on the twins, her heart racing. She could feel the weight of Lucas's protective stance behind her, but she knew that Victoria wasn't bluffing. The woman had proven time and again that she was willing to go to any length to get what she wanted.
Lucas glared at Victoria. "You've crossed every line imaginable, Victoria. Do you honestly think I'd let you win now? You'll never get the files, and you'll never hurt my family again."
Victoria's lips curled into a smirk. "You're so predictable, Lucas. Always playing the hero. But even heroes have their limits."
She snapped her fingers, and one of her men stepped forward, holding a small device. "This," she said, holding up what appeared to be a remote, "is connected to a little surprise I've planted. If you don't hand over the files in the next five minutes, this entire building will go up in flames. Think of it as a gentle nudge to take me seriously."
Amelia's eyes widened, and her grip on the twins tightened. "You're insane!" she shouted.
Victoria shrugged. "Maybe. But insanity gets results. Now, Lucas, the clock is ticking. What will it be?"
Lucas's fists clenched at his sides. His mind raced as he calculated his options. Giving Victoria what she wanted wasn't an option, but neither was risking Amelia and the twins' lives.
Amelia looked up at him, her eyes full of determination. "Lucas, don't give in. We'll find another way."
He shook his head. "Amelia, this isn't just about us. There are innocent people in this building. If she's telling the truth"
"She's bluffing!" Amelia interrupted, her voice firm. "She wants you to panic, to make a mistake. Don't give her the satisfaction."
Victoria tapped the remote against her palm, her expression bored. "Such a touching display of trust. But I wonder, Lucas, are you really willing to bet their lives on a hunch?"
Lucas's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Michael stepped forward. "Wait," he said, his voice steady. "Victoria, what do you really want? Is this about power, revenge, or something else? Because if it's power, blowing up this building won't give you that. It'll only make you a target."
Victoria tilted her head, seemingly intrigued. "Ah, Michael. Always the voice of reason. But this isn't about power it's about control. And I will have it, one way or another."
Amelia's mind raced. She glanced at the twins, then at Lucas. "There's got to be something we can do," she whispered.
Lucas nodded, his gaze never leaving Victoria. "Stall her," he muttered under his breath.
Amelia straightened, stepping forward. "You think you're in control, Victoria? You're just proving how desperate you are. You've lost every advantage, and this is your last, pathetic attempt to hold onto something that isn't yours."
Victoria's smirk faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Desperate? Hardly. I've played this game long enough to know when I'm winning."
Amelia didn't back down. "If you were winning, you wouldn't need to threaten innocent lives. You're scared, Victoria. Scared that you've already lost."
The tension in the room was suffocating. Lucas took a step closer to Amelia, ready to shield her and the twins if necessary. Victoria's men looked uncertain, exchanging nervous glances.
Then, suddenly, the lights flickered. Everyone froze. The sound of static crackled through a hidden speaker, followed by a distorted voice.
"Victoria," the voice said, cold and mechanical, "your time is up."
Victoria's eyes widened, her composure slipping for the first time. "Who is this?!" she demanded, looking around the room.
The voice continued. "Did you really think you could outsmart everyone? The files, the threats—they've already been neutralized. It's over."
Amelia exchanged a shocked glance with Lucas. Was this some kind of ally they didn't know about?
Victoria's hand trembled as she tightened her grip on the remote. "You're lying!" she shouted, her voice unsteady.
The voice responded with chilling calmness. "Press the button if you dare. But know this: the only thing you'll destroy is yourself."
Victoria hesitated, her finger hovering over the button. Her face twisted in anger and fear as the mysterious voice echoed again.
"You have five seconds to leave, or you'll face the consequences."
The countdown began.
"Five… Four…"
Victoria's men started backing away, unsure of what was happening.
"Three…"
Amelia clutched Lucas's arm, her heart racing.
"Two…"
Victoria's face was a mix of fury and panic.
"One."
The room plunged into darkness.