As the door clicked shut behind the police, the silence in the penthouse was deafening.
Victoria shoved William’s hand off her shoulder. “You lied to me,” she breathed, backing away. “For months? I thought I was free. I thought I was starting over!”
“I couldn’t let you go,” William admitted, his voice ragged. “I knew… I knew I made a mistake the moment you walked out. I kept the papers in case I could fix it.”
“You trapped me!”
“I saved you!” William shouted back, gesturing to the door. “Do you think Dominic could have stopped them? Beatrice would have you in a padded room by now! The only thing standing between you and that asylum is the name Croft!”
Victoria looked at Dominic. He was standing by the window, his fists clenched, silent. He knew William was right. Legally, Dominic was powerless.
“He’s right, Victoria,” Dominic said, the words tasting like ash. “If you stay here, Beatrice will come back with a SWAT team. If you go with him… you are legally untouchable.”
Victoria looked between the two men. One offered freedom but no safety. The other offered safety but no freedom. She looked down at her stomach. She had to choose the baby.
“I will go with you,” Victoria said to William, her voice cold as steel. “But I am not your wife, William. I am a hostage.”
William flinched, but he nodded. “Let’s go.”
He took her arm. This time, he led her out. Dominic watched them go, unable to move, realizing that the piece of paper William had hidden in a safe was stronger than any army he could buy.