Chapter 208
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VENUS
The footage confirmed what we feared. A figure dressed entirely in black had crossed the eastern perimeter of the house, moved with deliberate precision, and thrown the stone through the children’s window before vanishing into the dark. He evaded every camera except one, his face obscured, his movement swift and unhesitating. It was not a spontaneous act. It was a message, one that left the air in the room heavy and cold.
I could not sleep that night. Every shadow in the hallway seemed to move, every sound from the wind carried menace. My children were no longer safe here. The house that once held laughter and comfort now felt like a cage with invisible cracks. When morning came, I told Aaron what I had already decided. “They have to leave,” I said. “I will not take another chance p>
Aaron did not argue. Connor, too, agreed without hesitation. “It is the right call,” he said. “Rosemary’s estate is far from the city, and we can reinforce it.” Plans were drawn before dawn. Security personnel were assigned, vehicles inspected, and routes reviewed twice over.
Later that night, my phone, which I’d silenced, vibrated on the desk. The caller ID flashed Gianna.
I picked it up, expecting her to talk about the latest headlines-the vindication, the shocking turn of events.
“Venus! Oh my god, I just saw the news! All of it!” Her voice was bright, full of the easy, uncomplicated relief of someone who had just woken up to good news.
I closed my eyes briefly, swallowing the fatigue and the terror. “Gianna. Hi p>
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to call! I’ve been out of service for days,” she explained quickly. “I was on a silent retreat, one of those places where they confiscate your devices. Just got them back this morning and my phone blew up with alerts. Aaron’s name is everywhere! Is it true? The footage, the tampering? It’s finally over p>
I took a deep breath, fighting to keep the tremor out of my voice. “It’s true, Gianna. The scandal is over.” The game, however, has just begun. I couldn’t tell her about the rock. Not yet. She’d panic.
“Thank God. I’m so happy. I’m flying back tomorrow-I’ll be there in the afternoon. I want to know every detail of how you pulled this off p>
We didn’t pull it off. Someone else did. Someone who frames people and then clears them. Someone who throws rocks at children.
“Okay, Gianna. We’ll talk when you get here,” I said, my focus already back on the logistics of moving my children.
“You sound different. What’s wrong Venus? Is everything okay p>
“No, nothing’s fine. I’ll tell you when you get back tomorrow” I mumbled, olding back my tears.
“I’m getting worried p>
“You shouldn’t be, just be safe okay p>
“Okay, okay”
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“I love you.” I hanged up.
By the next morning, the children were ready. Iris’s bandaged forehead made my heart ache. Sabine Jr refused to leave my side; her small hands clutched my arm as if the world might fall apart if she let go. George my little boy was trying to be strong for his sisters but I could see he was shook. I decided then that I would go with them. Aaron insisted on coming with but I told him too stay Connor and everyone else needed him here, Sabine and Colton would be here soon and Jane was returning today.
I told him, I’ll get them settled with their grandma and I’ll be back.
The convoy departed shortly after sunrise. Three black vehicles moved through the quiet streets, the engines low, the morning air tinted with fog. I sat in the middle car with the children, two security escorts ahead and one behind. Rick coordinated over the radio.
The world outside blurred past the windows-gray light, distant trees, and the slow awakening of the city. Sabine Jr eventually fell asleep with her head against my shoulder. Iris watched the clouds in silence, her expression thoughtful. George hummed a tune under his breath, as if trying to hold the last piece of normalcy he could find.
We were halfway to Rosemary’s estate when the atmosphere shifted. The lead driver’s voice crackled through the radio. “Ma’am, there’s a delay ahead. Construction, possibly.” His tone was cautious. Rick’s voice followed almost immediately. “There was no scheduled work on this route. Keep your distance p>
The vehicles slowed. The air seemed to thicken. I glanced out the window-empty road, a bend up ahead, and two trucks parked diagonally across the lane. No workers. No movement. Only stillness.
“Is that normal?” George whispered.
Before I could answer, one of the security men leaned forward, his hand instinctively moving to the sidearm at his belt. The tension in the car rose like a held breath. I could hear my own heartbeat.
Then came the first sound-sharp, metallic, distant. The kind of sound that made time hesitate.
“Reverse!” someone shouted over the radio. The driver shifted into gear, but the moment he did, the rear vehicle exploded in a burst of light and smoke. The sound shattered the morning calm, sending birds into the sky. The children screamed, and I instinctively pulled them close.
Through the haze, I saw figures emerging from the treeline, their movements precise and synchronized. Black clothing. Covered faces. No hesitation.
The driver tried to maneuver, but another impact struck near the front of the car. The vehicle jolted violently, tires screeching as smoke filled the air. I clutched my kids as best as I could, shielding them as the windows cracked under pressure.
“Stay down!” one of the guards shouted, his voice firm but trembling at the edges. I could hear the distant echo of Rick calling for reinforcements, his tone controlled yet strained.
The car began to spin slightly, the world outside reduced to flashes-trees, fire, the shimmer of sunlight on shattered glass. My breath came short and quick. The children were crying, their small hands gripping my arms with desperate strength.
Somewhere beyond the noise, I caught a glimpse of the lead vehicle pushing forward, trying to clear a path. The
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road ahead seemed to stretch endlessly, a ribbon of light and danger. I reached for the door handle instinctively, though I knew there was nowhere to run.
Then, in a single moment that felt suspended between heartbeats, the car came to a halt. Silence followed- thick, deceptive, heavy with anticipation. I could smell the smoke, taste the dust in the air.
And then I saw them-two figures stepping out from behind the trucks. They walked slowly, as if they had all the time in the world. One of them raised a hand.
The next sound was the unmistakable echo of glass breaking, and the world erupted once more.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.