Chapter 129
Case Against the Holts.
“I believe the Holts orchestrated my accident,” Alice said. “I survived the fall, but while I made it to the riverbank, I overheard a search party mentioning that the Holts ordered them to find me and make sure I was dead p>
Alice gave Nathaniel a complete account of things as she remembered them. “Now that the connection between Victor and the truth is out, I have more reason to believe they wanted me gone because I was looking into Serena’s identity, and I suppose, if I had found out, it would have revealed Vanessa’s identity p>
Nathaniel’s entire body stiffened.
His hands balled into fists, and he felt the blood rushing through his veins.
“You hear that, Nathan?” Xavier pointed, his eyes narrowed. “That woman you and your mom favored gave Alice’s family misery p>
Nathaniel was already angry at himself. He was all the more angry with the Holts, but Xavier’s comment was unnecessary. Did he really have to rub it in?
He stood up, teeth gritting. He shouted at Xavier, “Says the man who kept my family away from me all these years p>
“Stop!” Serena yelled. She stepped between them and snapped at Nathaniel. “Nathan, that was not Xavier’s decision; it was mine! If it were not for him, I would have lost the twins! Be grateful to the man who saved Ali and Bastin p>
Then she turned to Xavier. “There is no need to remind him of his mistakes, Xavier. He has already acknowledged them. If anything, we should just… work together p>
But it was too much for Nathaniel to handle for now. He massaged his temples. “I need to get some air p>
Nathaniel stepped out to let out some steam.
He walked around the community, just thinking. Finding a vacant lot, he found himself screaming.
Alice could have pointed him to Serena, and he wouldn’t have missed so many years of the twins growing up.
The Holts, the people he trusted, were one of the prime movers behind the fallout between Serena and him.
More than the secrets the Holts kept, they even dared to harm Alice?
They were just as evil as Victor!
Nathaniel recalled how Vanessa had once provoked Serena, and all the more, he was convinced to make the Holts pay.
It took about an hour for Nathaniel’s emotions to settle down. When he returned, he swore, “Alice, I will make sure to get justice for what you have been through p>
He looked into the eyes of Alice’s parents, then at Landon. Solemnly, he said, “I apologize. In my pursuit of justice, I was blinded. I mistook the enemy for an ally. I will forever be indebted to you p>
The Hartleys fell silent. Their lack of objection might have signaled acceptance, but to Nathaniel, it was not enough.
Then Nathaniel regarded Xavier. He looked him in the eye and said, “Xavier, thank you for helping Serena through her pregnancy, for taking her to safety, and for p>
He struggled to admit it, but eventually he found the words. “For being there for the children. They mention you often, especially Bastin. They look up to you p>
Xavier did not respond. Nathaniel knew whatever stood between them was far over. Still, he said, “I hope we can set our differences aside for Serena, Alice, and the kids p>
Finally, Nathaniel directed his attention to Serena. “Serena is right. We should work together. After all, we have a common enemy p>
Returning his attention to Alice, Nathaniel asked, “Are you willing to testify? I can request additional military security p>
“I will,” Alice confirmed. “I want her locked behind bars for what she and her family did to me p>
Serena stood up from her seat and asked, “I assume the DNA test results are out p>
Nathaniel nodded. “It has been confirmed. Vanessa is Victor’s daughter. I just didn’t tell you yet because of the Stefan situation p>
“I knew it,” Alice muttered. “Just how deep does Victor’s network go? What if there’s more p>
“Nothing remains a secret forever,” Serena said. “Now that we are looking into the Holts, we could uncover more p>
“And thank you,” Serena added, looking at Nathaniel, “for understanding Alice’s decision back then p>
Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak. He hesitated, but eventually he said, “Sometimes we make decisions that we think are right. I thought I made the right choices back then, so… I understand p>
He glanced at Alice. “And I won’t take it against you, Alice. If anything, it shows the kind of loyalty you have towards Setana. Even if I wish things had turned out differently, I can only deal with what’s in front of me now p>
After agreeing, they all sat down to discuss the matter.
Nathaniel revealed that the Holts were being charged with conspiracy and bribery. That alone could keep them locked up. However, with.
new direction and Alice’s with ver
attempted murder could be added to their crimes.
Serena had fatten silent after their talk, but Nathaniel noticed the fire in her eyes. When they were doneê discussing, she said, “When this all come down Nathan, I want to be there when the warrant is served on Vanessa p>
Her eyes became hooded. “I want to see Vanessa’s face when she realizes that everything she did to destroy Alice and me has failed p>
Nathaniel knew that look. It was the same fury Victor had awakened in him. He
agreed quietly, “We will see her together, Serena p>
Justice was no longer a distant future; it was taking shape. Still, before that awaited
meeting, Nathaniel had to stay in Rexam a little longer.
On Monday, he took Ali and Bastin to their playgroup.
On Tuesday, he prepared a surprise, one that had everything to do with… a playground.