Chapter 114

Liam's sports car screeched to a halt outside Wright Manor's gated entrance. He barely remembered turning off the engine before sprinting toward the grand double doors.

The opulent parlor held three figures - an elderly couple seated on a velvet Chesterfield sofa, and a brooding man standing by the marble fireplace.

"Liam?" Julian Whitmore straightened in surprise. "What brings you here at this hour?"

Liam's chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. He managed a curt nod. "Archibald. Margaret."

Margaret dabbed at her red-rimmed eyes with a monogrammed handkerchief. "I called him. Our granddaughter just tried to take her own life! How much longer will you keep playing the tyrant?"

Archibald's face darkened. "Must you always interfere? Liam has responsibilities - a wife waiting at home! Do you ever consider the consequences?"

"I consider Victoria's life!" Margaret shot back, her voice breaking. "That's all that matters now!"

The old man's hands trembled with suppressed rage. "You're impossible!"

Liam stepped between them. "What happened to Victoria?"

"A scratch on her wrist," Archibald grumbled. "The drama queen will live."

Margaret pointed an accusing finger. "This is your doing! Grounding her for weeks? Cutting her off from Liam? She's loved him since they were children!"

She turned pleading eyes to Liam. "The psychiatrist says she's severely depressed. All she talks about is ending her life. After losing our son and daughter-in-law, must we lose Victoria too?"

Julian remained silent, his expression unreadable.

"Enough!" Archibald bellowed. "Must you air our family troubles in front of company?"

Margaret's lips trembled. "You brought him into this family, not I!"

Seeing the argument escalating, Liam interjected. "Where is she?"

"Upstairs," Archibald relented. "Two physicians are with her."

Without another word, Liam took the grand staircase two steps at a time.

The master bedroom smelled of antiseptic and despair. Victoria lay propped against silk pillows, her bandaged wrist resting on the duvet. When she saw Liam, fresh tears spilled down her hollow cheeks.

He pulled a chair to her bedside. "Victoria..."

"You came," she whispered hoarsely. "I thought you'd forgotten me."

Liam's jaw tightened. "What were you thinking?"

Her fingers plucked at the blanket. "What's left for me? My parents are gone. My grandparents despise me. And you..." A sob caught in her throat. "You chose Evelyn over me."

"This isn't about Evelyn," Liam said firmly.

"Isn't it?" Her voice rose hysterically. "Everything changed when she appeared! You used to care about me!"

Liam exhaled sharply. "Look at your actions, Victoria. Destroying eighty million in research? Framing innocent scientists? Nearly giving Margaret a heart attack with your schemes?"

Her face went deathly pale. "I only did those things because-"

"Because what?" Liam cut in. "Because you couldn't accept that I love someone else?"

With a wail, Victoria threw off the covers and bolted for the balcony. Liam caught her arm just as she reached the railing.

"Let me go!" she shrieked, struggling against his grip. "I want to die!"

Liam hauled her back inside as she collapsed against him, her body wracked with violent sobs. The two physicians rushed in, their faces etched with concern.

In that moment, Liam realized with chilling clarity - this wasn't love. This was obsession. And it would destroy them all if it continued.