Chapter 14 - The Broken Circle
The estate’s underground screening facility was stark and brightly lit under cold fluorescent panels.
Ross stood beside Julian, watching the bank of security monitors cycling through footage from the past forty-eight hours.
Sitting on a metal folding chair in the center of the interrogation room was Evelyn Wright, the nursery's senior night nurse.
She had worked for the Vance family for over fifteen years, trusted implicitly by the household staff.
Julian pushed the heavy door open, the sharp click of the latch echoing in the small room.
Evelyn jumped, her eyes red from crying, her hands trembling violently in her lap.
"Mr. Julian, please," Evelyn sobbed before he could even speak. "You have to understand, I had no choice."
Julian stood before her, his posture straight, his expression carved out of solid granite.
"You left the balcony terrace unlatched," Julian said, his voice deceptively calm. "You gave a key to the perimeter gate."
"She threatened my son," Evelyn wept, burying her face in her hands. "He has debts, terrible debts with loan sharks in Boston. Mrs. Vance bought the debt."
Julian closed his eyes for a split second, feeling a wave of disgust wash over him.
Victoria never changed; she weaponized people's vulnerabilities like surgical blades.
"What did she instruct you to do?" Julian asked, his voice dead of emotion.
"She just wanted to see the child," Evelyn cried, shaking her head frantically. "She swore she wouldn't hurt her! She just wanted to touch her grandson... her granddaughter!"
"She wanted to leave a warning," Julian corrected coldly. "She wanted us to know that our baby isn't safe in her own crib."
Evelyn dropped to her knees on the cold concrete floor, reaching out toward Julian’s shoes in desperation.
"I’m sorry, Mr. Julian! I swear to God, I never meant for anyone to get hurt!"
Julian took a step back, refusing to let her touch him.
"You endangered my wife and daughter for money," Julian said, looking down at her without a shred of pity.
He turned toward the door where Ross was waiting with two armed security officers.
"Turn her over to the federal authorities for domestic trespass and corporate espionage," Julian ordered flatly.
"Mr. Julian, please!" Evelyn screamed as the guards lifted her to her feet.
Julian didn't look back as he walked out into the corridor.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed his corporate legal team.
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"Deploy every private investigator we have," Julian commanded. "Find Victoria Vance before the sun comes up."
***
