Chapter 15
Part 16: A Prince Learns to Stand
Victor arrived before the men reached the front door.
He had driven with Captain Ward after receiving Sofia's emergency message.
The sedan belonged to a private security firm.
Adrian Vale's firm.
Ward confronted the men outside.
They claimed to be conducting a routine protection detail.
He demanded identification.
Neither had valid authorization to enter the property.
They left without resistance.
But the message was clear.
Vale knew about Bellamy.
Inside the house, Victor found Sofia packing the ledger into a secure case.
"You came," she said.
He nodded.
"Yes."
"I told you not to risk yourself."
"You also told me to make different choices."
She looked at him.
For a moment, the tension between them softened.
Then Victor handed her his phone.
"Something happened while you were here."
A recording played.
Gabriel stood at a podium.
The king looked older than he had that morning.
He announced a temporary suspension of ceremonial duties pending an independent investigation.
He also acknowledged that Claire de Valmont's case contained substantial irregularities.
Sofia stared.
"He admitted it?"
"Part of it."
"Why?"
Victor looked away.
"Because I told him I would testify."
Sofia turned toward him.
"You did what?"
"I met with the attorney general.
I gave them the documents from Father's study."
"You could lose everything."
Victor gave a faint smile.
"I'm beginning to suspect everything was never really mine."
Sofia studied him.
The arrogant prince who had once treated her humiliation as entertainment was gone.
In his place stood a frightened young man who had decided to stop hiding behind a title.
"Victor."
He looked up.
"Thank you."
The words seemed to surprise them both.
He nodded.
Then his expression darkened.
"There's another problem."
He showed her a photograph from palace security.
Thomas Bennett entering a private medical facility.
Beside him walked Adrian Vale.
Sofia's blood went cold.
"That can't be right."
"The image is from this morning."
"Thomas would never go with him."
Victor hesitated.
"Unless he had a reason."
Sofia grabbed her phone.
Thomas didn't answer.
She called again.
Voicemail.
A message arrived seconds later.
From Thomas.
Don't trust the records.
Ask who created the trust.
Sofia stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
I'm sorry, sweetheart.
Attached was a photograph.
Thomas sat in a hospital chair.
May you like
Beside him stood Adrian Vale.
And between them, lying unconscious in a hospital bed, was King Gabriel.
