Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN MARK WANTED TO BELIEVE
Victoria Vance had spent her entire life learning how to enter a room.
Her father, Senator Charles Vance, taught her early that appearances mattered more than truth.
Smile at cameras.
Remember important names.
Never allow people beneath you to believe they are your equal.
By twenty-eight, Victoria understood high society perfectly.
And Mark Sterling was the ultimate prize.
Not simply because he was wealthy.
There were plenty of wealthy men.
Mark controlled an empire with land holdings, hotels, luxury developments, and investment properties worth billions.
More importantly, his reputation was nearly spotless.
Marriage to him would transform Victoria from a politician's spoiled daughter into one of the most powerful women in American society.
There was only one complication.
Leo.
Mark's entire estate structure revolved around his son.
Leo inherited everything.
Victoria learned that fact two weeks after moving into the mansion.
She had casually entered Mark's study while he was showering.
A trust document had been sitting inside an unlocked folder.
The wording was unmistakable.
If anything happened to Mark Sterling, the majority of Sterling Holdings would be preserved for Leonardo Sterling.
Victoria remembered staring at the toddler's name.
Leonardo.
A two-year-old stood between her and everything.
From that day forward, she stopped seeing Leo as a child.
She saw him as competition.
But only when Mark wasn't looking.
Around Mark, Victoria became sweetness itself.
She bought Leo expensive toys.
Kissed his forehead.
Posted carefully staged photographs.
One photo became especially popular online.
Victoria holding Leo beside the lake.
Caption:
My little man. So lucky to love this beautiful family.
Thousands of hearts.
Thousands of comments.
Elena remembered the photograph differently.
Twenty seconds after Mark walked away, Victoria handed Leo back to Elena.
"Take him."
Elena frowned.
"He wants you."
"I said take him."
Leo began crying.
Victoria's jaw tightened.
"Oh, stop that disgusting noise."
Elena looked at her.
Victoria smiled coldly.
"Don't look so shocked. Children cry."
Then she walked inside.
That evening Elena lay awake in her small room above the service wing.
She told herself not to judge.
Perhaps Victoria wasn't comfortable with children.
Perhaps she simply needed time.
Then Elena remembered Leo's face.
Children didn't understand status.
They didn't understand manipulation.
But they understood danger.
May you like
And Leo had started hiding whenever Victoria entered the room.
---
