Chapter 8 - The Return of the Ghost
The peace of the Vance estate lasted for nearly a year.
By the winter of the following year, Lily was thriving at a prestigious private school in Chicago, showing a talent for painting and cello. Clara had established a non-profit foundation funded by the Vance family, dedicated to providing legal defense and shelter for domestic abuse survivors.
Everything seemed complete. Until a snowstorm hit Chicago in late December.
It was 10:00 PM on a Tuesday. Heavy, wet snow was falling across the city, blanketing the Vance estate in a thick shroud of white. Inside the study, Nathan was reviewing financial reports for the foundation when his private desk phone rang.
The display showed an unlisted number from Zurich, Switzerland.
Nathan answered it, his brow furrowed. "Nathan Vance."
A raspy, high-pitched laugh came through the speaker—a sound that made the hairs on the back of Nathan’s neck stand up instantly.
“Did you really think it was over, Nathan?”
Victoria’s voice was different—thinner, weaker, but dripping with the same psychotic malice that had defined her existence.
"Victoria," Nathan said coldly, his hand tightening around the receiver. "You are violating your restraining order by calling this number."
“Restraining orders are for poor people, Nathan,” Victoria sneered over the static of the international line. “Do you know where I am right now? I’m looking at a beautiful photograph of our daughter... or rather, your bastard... walking out of her music academy in the snow.”
Nathan stood up so fast his leather chair crashed into the bookshelf behind him. "If you come near my daughter, Victoria, I swear to God I will kill you myself."
May you like
“I’m not in Chicago, darling,” Victoria whispered chillingly. “I don't need to be there. I hired some very professional people from Europe. They’ve been watching your little sanctuary for three weeks. They know when the gates open. They know when the guards change shifts.”
Outside the study window, the lights across the estate’s main perimeter wall suddenly flickered once, twice, and then went completely dark.
