Chapter 11 – War Inside the Blackwood Family
Chapter 11 – War Inside the Blackwood Family
Families were supposed to be places of safety.
A place where people protected each other.
A place where blood meant loyalty.
But Victor Blackwood had learned a painful truth.
Sometimes the people closest to you were the ones who knew exactly where to place the knife.
And now the enemy was no longer outside the gates.
The enemy carried the Blackwood name.
The message remained on Victor’s phone.
If you want the truth about Ethan, come alone.
No name.
No explanation.
Only a location.
A forgotten warehouse on the edge of Chicago.
A place that had once belonged to the Blackwood family.
A place abandoned after a violent war twenty years ago.
Victor stared at the message for several minutes.
Lily stood beside him.
“You’re going.”
It wasn’t a question.
Victor looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Victor frowned.
“Lily.”
“I know what you’re going to say.”
“Then listen.”
“You’re going to say it’s dangerous.”
“It is.”
“You’re going to say you can’t protect me.”
“I can’t guarantee your safety.”
She looked directly at him.
“But I’m still coming.”
Victor went silent.
Most people feared him.
Most people obeyed him.
Lily challenged him.
Not because she wanted power.
Because she cared.
And somehow, that made her stronger than anyone he had ever known.
“I won’t put you in danger.”
Victor finally said.
Lily lowered her voice.
“You already did.”
The words hurt.
Because they were true.
She had entered his world because she cared about Ethan.
And his world was dangerous.
But she didn’t regret it.
“I’m not leaving Ethan.”
Victor looked at her.
“He needs you.”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“And he needs you too.”
For a moment, Victor had no answer.
Because nobody had ever spoken to him like that.
Not as a boss.
Not as a weapon.
As a person.
Before they could leave, Marcus rushed into the room.
“Sir.”
Victor immediately knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
Marcus placed a file on the table.
“Richard moved.”
Victor opened it.
Photos.
Locations.
Names.
Richard Blackwood was no longer hiding.
“He knows about Serena.”
Marcus nodded.
“He knows she failed.”
“And?”
Marcus hesitated.
“He’s preparing something bigger.”
Victor looked at him.
“What?”
Marcus took a breath.
“A takeover.”
The words changed the room.
A takeover.
Not just against Victor personally.
Against the entire Blackwood empire.
Richard had been waiting.
Watching.
Building his own network.
While Victor believed he was gone.
“How many people are with him?”
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“More than expected.”
“Names.”
Marcus pointed to the list.
Victor read silently.
Then stopped.
One name.
A name he knew.
A name he trusted.
“No.”
Marcus looked down.
“I’m sorry.”
Victor’s face hardened.
“Impossible.”
The name belonged to Anthony Cole.
Victor’s security commander.
A man who had saved his life twice.
A man who had been beside him for fifteen years.
A man Victor considered family.
“He betrayed me?”
Marcus nodded.
“We have proof.”
Victor stared at the documents.
A strange feeling filled him.
Not anger.
Not yet.
Something worse.
Disappointment.
Because betrayal from enemies was expected.
Betrayal from family was different.
Meanwhile, Serena sat alone in the mansion’s guest room.
She was no longer the elegant woman from the magazines.
Her perfect image was gone.
Her plans had collapsed.
But one thing remained.
Her pride.
The door opened.
Richard entered.
Serena looked up.
“You failed.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You’re blaming me?”
Richard smiled.
“You were supposed to control Victor.”
“I almost did.”
“Almost is what weak people say.”
Serena stood.
“You promised me.”
Richard looked at her.
“What?”
“You promised I would become Mrs. Blackwood.”
A cold smile appeared.
“You still might.”
Serena frowned.
“What are you planning?”
Richard placed a file on the table.
“The truth.”
She opened it.
Her expression changed.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You can’t.”
Richard leaned closer.
“Watch me.”
At the warehouse, Victor arrived.
Lily stayed inside the vehicle with security nearby.
Victor entered alone.
The place smelled old.
Forgotten.
But he knew immediately.
Someone was there.
“Show yourself.”
A voice answered.
“You always were impatient.”
Victor stopped.
A man stepped from the shadows.
Older.
Tired.
But familiar.
Alexander Vale.
Isabella’s brother.
Victor stared.
“You’re alive.”
Alexander smiled sadly.
“Yes.”
“Why hide?”
Alexander looked away.
“Because Isabella asked me to.”
The answer shocked Victor.
“She knew?”
“Yes.”
“About Serena?”
Alexander nodded.
“And about Richard.”
Victor stepped closer.
“Then tell me everything.”
Alexander looked at him.
“Before I do…”
A pause.
“You need to understand something.”
“What?”
“Ethan is not the reason they targeted you.”
Victor’s expression changed.
“Then what is?”
Alexander looked directly at him.
“You.”
Victor remained silent.
Alexander continued.
“Richard never wanted your money.”
“Then what?”
“Your position.”
Victor frowned.
“My position?”
Alexander nodded.
“The Blackwood family has a secret.”
“What secret?”
Alexander took out a document.
“Your father created a hidden inheritance system.”
Victor looked confused.
“What does that have to do with Ethan?”
Alexander answered:
“Everything.”
The document explained everything.
The Blackwood family fortune had a condition.
The next heir could not inherit unless the child carried the true Blackwood bloodline.
Victor stared.
“My son is my blood.”
Alexander looked at him.
“That’s what you believe.”
The world stopped.
Victor’s eyes hardened.
“Explain.”
Alexander hesitated.
Then said:
“Isabella discovered something after Ethan was born.”
Victor’s voice became dangerous.
“What?”
“She discovered Ethan’s birth records had been altered.”
Back at the mansion, Lily sat beside Ethan.
She watched him sleep.
She had no idea that somewhere else, Victor was hearing words that could change everything.
Then the alarm sounded.
Again.
But this time…
Not from outside.
From inside.
Lily stood immediately.
Something was wrong.
She picked up Ethan.
The hallway lights went off.
A familiar voice echoed.
“Still protecting him?”
Lily froze.
She knew that voice.
Serena.
But Serena was supposed to be guarded.
“How did you get out?”
A laugh.
“Your mistake was thinking I was the prisoner.”
The lights returned.
And Lily saw her.
Not alone.
Behind Serena stood Anthony Cole.
Victor’s trusted security commander.
The man who had protected Ethan.
The man who knew every weakness in the mansion.
Lily’s heart dropped.
“You betrayed him.”
Anthony looked away.
Serena smiled.
“Everyone has a price.”
At the warehouse, Victor’s phone suddenly rang.
Marcus.
His voice was urgent.
“Sir.”
Victor immediately knew.
“What happened?”
A pause.
Then:
“The mansion was breached.”
Victor’s blood ran cold.
“Ethan?”
Silence.
That was the answer.
Victor’s entire world stopped.
“Where is my son?”
Marcus’s voice broke.
“We don’t know.”
Victor looked at Alexander.
The older man saw the change in his face.
“What happened?”
Victor turned.
Someone had taken Ethan.
Again.
But this time…
It wasn’t strangers.
It was someone inside his own family.
When Victor returned to the mansion, the damage was clear.
Broken security doors.
Destroyed cameras.
Empty nursery.
And on Ethan’s bed…
Another message.
Victor picked it up.
Only one sentence.
“Come to the old Blackwood estate. Bring the truth.”
Victor crushed the paper in his hand.
Lily was gone too.
Richard had taken everything.
Again.
Marcus approached carefully.
“Sir…”
Victor looked at him.
His eyes were no longer calm.
No longer controlled.
The monster everyone feared had returned.
“Prepare everyone.”
Marcus nodded.
“For war?”
Victor looked toward the darkness outside.
“No.”
A pause.
“For family.”
Across the city, inside the abandoned Blackwood estate, Richard stood beside Ethan’s crib.
Serena watched.
“You actually took him.”
Richard smiled.
“Yes.”
“And Victor will come.”
“Exactly.”
Serena looked uncertain.
“Then what happens?”
Richard looked at the sleeping child.
“The Blackwood family ends tonight.”
He turned toward the door.
“Or begins again.”
Because the final battle was no longer coming.
May you like
It had arrived.
End of Chapter 11
