Chapter 6 - The Shadows of the Past
Two weeks later.
The penthouse was quiet once more, its broken windows replaced with reinforced, bulletproof glass, and its security team upgraded to a round-the-clock elite private detail provided by Vance Global.
Julian was being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility awaiting trial. But as Victoria sat in her father’s private study in Beverly Hills, sipping hot tea, she realized the nightmare had roots far deeper than just one bitter husband.
Arthur Vance sat behind his mahogany desk, looking through a thick leather-bound dossier.
"Victoria," Arthur said quietly, his voice heavy with old regret. "Julian wasn't acting alone."
Victoria looked up, her hand instinctively tightening around Leo’s baby blanket. "What do you mean, Dad?"
Arthur slid three photographs across the desk.
The first was a photo of Julian’s father from twenty years ago. The second was a photo of a prominent pharmaceutical billionaire named Victor Thorne—one of Arthur’s oldest business rivals. The third photo showed Julian meeting Victor Thorne at a private airport hangar three days before he attempted to poison Leo.
"Thorne Pharmaceuticals," Victoria gasped softly. "The company that supplies the clinical trials for heavy-metal antidotes..."
"Victor Thorne was the one who supplied Julian with the thallium sulfate," Arthur revealed, his jaw tightening. "Thorne was using Julian to launch a hostile takeover of Vance Global. If Leo had died and Julian had inherited the thirty-million-dollar trust, Julian was contractually obligated to transfer controlling shares of Vance Global to Thorne in exchange for helping him escape to South America."
Victoria felt a wave of icy fury rush through her veins. "So my baby was just a bargaining chip in a corporate war between two ruthless old men?"
"Yes," Arthur admitted, shame darkening his eyes. "My past corporate battles brought this poison into your home, Victoria. I built an empire, but I nearly cost you your son."
Victoria stood up, stepping around the desk and placing her hand gently on her father's shoulder.
"You didn't bring him into my home, Dad," Victoria said firmly. "Julian lied to all of us. But now we know who the real mastermind is."
She pulled her phone from her purse and dialed a private number.
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"Who are you calling?" Arthur asked.
"I’m calling Maria," Victoria said, a sharp, confident smile gracing her lips. "She’s currently completing her private investigator training course that I paid for. And she just found Victor Thorne’s secret offshore banking records."
