Chapter 11 - THE WAR OF TWO STORIES
By morning, cameras surrounded Sterling Manor.
News vans parked outside the gates.
Social media exploded.
Some believed Victoria.
Others demanded footage.
Photographs of Elena were pulled from old employee records.
Commentators questioned her background.
One television host asked whether Elena had developed an "inappropriate emotional attachment" to Mark.
Elena shut off the television.
Her hands shook.
Mark saw it.
"You don't have to stay."
She looked at him.
"You want me to leave?"
"No."
Mark immediately regretted the wording.
"I mean you can take time away. Somewhere private."
"And Leo?"
"He needs you."
Elena looked toward the playroom.
"Then I'm staying."
That afternoon, Victoria gave an interview.
She wore minimal makeup and pale clothing designed to make her appear vulnerable.
"I loved Leo like my own child."
Mark nearly threw the remote through the television.
Victoria continued.
"Unfortunately, certain employees resented my relationship with Mark."
Elena entered behind him.
"Turn it off."
Mark did.
"I should release the footage."
"The police said not yet."
"I don't care."
"You should."
Mark turned.
Elena's voice was calm.
"We don't win by becoming reckless."
The word stopped him.
We.
Mark looked at her.
Elena seemed to realize what she'd said.
She turned away.
Three days later investigators confirmed the security video was authentic.
Then another development surfaced.
A former nanny contacted police.
She had worked for Victoria's sister.
And she had a story.
Victoria had once been removed from her sister's home after frightening a young nephew during an argument.
No charges had been filed.
The family had buried it.
Suddenly, the narrative changed.
Reporters began asking different questions.
Not whether Elena attacked Victoria.
But whether the Vance family had protected Victoria before.
Charles Vance stopped giving interviews.
May you like
And Victoria began to panic.
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