part 6
PART 6
Victoria did not scream at first.
That was how Audrey knew she was dangerous.
A shocked innocent mother would have rushed forward.
Victoria only stared.
At the riding crop.
At Dominic on the rug.
At the annulment papers.
At Audrey’s steady hand.
Then she said, “Dominic… what on earth is happening in here?”
Dominic twisted his face toward her.
“Mother, call security.”
Audrey tightened the hold.
He stopped moving.
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
“Audrey, release my son.”
Audrey looked at her.
“No.”
Victoria stepped farther into the room.
“You are making a terrible mistake.”
Audrey smiled faintly.
“That is exactly what Elise Warren said you told her.”
The name hit the room harder than any shout.
Victoria’s face changed.
Dominic went still.
Audrey knew then.
They both remembered Elise.
Victoria recovered quickly.
“Elise was unstable.”
Audrey reached toward the pearl clutch and removed the small recorder.
“So you said.”
Victoria’s eyes dropped to it.
For the first time, fear touched her face.
Audrey spoke clearly.
“Dominic locked the door.”
“He produced a list of rules.”
“He introduced a threat object.”
“He grabbed me after I refused.”
“I defended myself.”
Dominic hissed, “You lying—”
Audrey increased pressure by one careful inch.
He stopped.
Victoria looked toward the door.
The hallway was suddenly full of movement.
Grace entered first.
Then Nathan.
Then hotel security.
Nathan saw Dominic on the floor and stopped cold.
His eyes went to Audrey.
“You okay?”
Audrey nodded once.
Nathan’s jaw tightened anyway.
Grace walked to the papers and looked at the riding crop without touching it.
“Victoria, I suggest you call your attorney before speaking further.”
Victoria lifted her chin.
“This is a private family matter.”
Grace’s voice was ice.
“Attempted coercion on a wedding night is not a family matter.”
Dominic tried to sound powerful from the floor.
“She attacked me.”
Audrey looked down at him.
“You locked the door.”
Grace added, “And the recorder will tell us the rest.”
Victoria took one step back.
Not from shame.
From calculation.
She looked at the annulment papers.
Then at Audrey.
“You would destroy two families over one misunderstanding?”
Audrey’s voice stayed steady.
“No.”
May you like
“I am saving mine from becoming yours.”
Read the full story 👉 Victoria tried to call it a family matter, but the recorder, the witnesses, and Elise’s name destroyed her control of the room.
