Chapter 3 - Victor Tried to Blame My Son—But Marcus Pointed at a Hidden Camera Behind the PaintingBy midnight, the mansion had become a prison.
Nobody was allowed outside.
Phones were collected.
Vehicles were searched.
Every employee was questioned.
I sat beside Marcus in the guest room.
He was asleep.
His little fingers still held one of his crayons.
I watched him breathe.
Then Dominic knocked.
He entered quietly.
“He's asleep?”
“Yes.”
Dominic looked at my son for several seconds.
“Your son saved my life.”
I frowned.
“He didn't know what he was doing.”
“Neither did I.”
He sat down.
“I've spent three years believing my body betrayed me.”
He looked at me.
“Turns out someone else did.”
Before I could answer, the lights flickered.
Marcus woke.
He sat up.
“Mommy?”
“I'm here.”
He pointed toward the wall.
“There's a man.”
My blood froze.
Dominic immediately stood.
“Where?”
Marcus pointed at a painting.
“Behind there.”
Dominic motioned to a guard.
The painting was removed.
Behind it was a tiny camera.
Dominic stared.
“That's impossible.”
The guard examined it.
“It was installed recently.”
Dominic looked at me.
Marcus had gone back to sleep.
“You need to leave.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere that isn't here.”
I shook my head.
“You just locked the mansion.”
“I'll get you out.”
“Why?”
Dominic's expression changed.
“Because your son sees things other people miss.”
I didn't know whether that was a compliment or a warning.
The next morning, Victor gathered everyone.
He accused me.
“This woman brought her son here intentionally.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“She planted the device.”
Dominic walked in.
Victor continued.
“She's trying to manipulate you.”
Dominic raised his hand.
Victor stopped.
Dominic looked at me.
“Did you plant it?”
“No.”
“Did you know what it was?”
“No.”
He nodded.
Then looked at Victor.
“Anything else?”
Victor hesitated.
“No.”
Dominic smiled.
“Good.”
Then he walked toward him.
“You're fired.”
The room went silent.
Victor stared.
“Sir?”
“Leave.”
“You can't be serious.”
Dominic pointed toward the door.
“I have never been more serious.”
Victor's face hardened.
“You'll regret this.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“I already regret trusting you.”
Victor left.
But before he reached the hallway, Marcus appeared.
He was carrying his stuffed dinosaur.
He pointed at Victor's wrist.
“Mommy.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“The shiny watch.”
Victor froze.
Dominic turned.
It was the same silver watch from the hospital footage.
Dominic slowly smiled.
“Victor.”
Victor ran.
He didn't get far.
Two guards tackled him.
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And for the first time, I realized my son hadn't merely found something inside Dominic's ear.
He had uncovered a conspiracy that had been waiting three years to surface.
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