Chapter 5 - THE CAMERA IN THE HEDGEMarcus noticed Victoria's expression.
“What is it?”
Nobody answered.
Elena slowly raised one hand.
Her finger pointed toward the hedge.
Victoria stepped into her line of sight.
“She needs medical attention.”
Elena moved sideways.
“Get her inside,” Victoria insisted.
Marcus frowned.
“Elena, what are you looking at?”
The red light blinked again.
Elena's breath caught.
“There.”
Marcus turned.
At first, he saw nothing.
Only darkness.
Leaves.
Branches.
Then—
blink.
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
He handed Leo carefully to the housekeeper who had finally arrived.
“Hold him.”
Victoria grabbed his arm.
“Marcus.”
He pulled away.
“What is that?”
He walked toward the hedge.
Victoria followed.
“Probably a garden sensor.”
Marcus pushed aside the branches.
A small white camera stared back at him.
Its lens pointed directly toward the pool.
Marcus stopped breathing.
Elena watched Victoria.
All color had disappeared from her face.
Marcus turned slowly.
“You knew that was there?”
“No.”
“You looked terrified the second Elena pointed at it.”
“Because this entire situation is terrifying!”
Marcus reached toward the camera.
A tiny green indicator appeared beneath the red light.
CONNECTED.
He pulled out his phone.
The Vance estate's security system appeared.
Marcus selected POOL WEST.
A timeline opened.
11:47 p.m.
11:48.
11:49.
Victoria stepped backward.
“Marcus, don't.”
He looked up.
Two words.
Nothing more.
“Don't what?”
Victoria swallowed.
“I mean… Leo needs you.”
Marcus stared at her.
Then pressed PLAY.
The screen showed the pool.
The stroller.
Victoria.
Alone.
Elena couldn't see the phone from where she stood.
But she could see Marcus's face.
His anger disappeared.
Then his color disappeared.
Then something much darker took its place.
On the recording, Victoria looked toward the mansion.
Released the brake.
And pushed.
Marcus stopped the video.
His hand began shaking.
Victoria whispered—
“It isn't what it looks like.”
Marcus looked at her.
Then he played it again.
This time, everyone watched.
The stroller rolled.
The baby disappeared.
Victoria stood motionless.
Then Elena came running.
She jumped.
No hesitation.
No conspiracy.
No lie.
Only a woman risking her life for a child.
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
His eyes found Elena.
Her swollen cheek.
Her split lip.
Her soaked uniform.
The woman he had struck.
The woman who had saved his son.
Then he looked at Victoria.
Victoria began backing toward the driveway.
“Marcus…”
He stepped toward her.
“What did you do?”
May you like
And for the first time that night—
Victoria stopped pretending.
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