Chapter 150
Blood And Truth.
Vanessa’s face turned ghostly white.
Ten police officers stormed through the door.
The bodyguards didn’t stand a chance.
“Matthew Holt,” the lead officer announced, “we have warrants for your arrest p>
He turned slightly, his gaze sweeping the room. “We also have warrants for Vivian Holt and Vanessa Holt as co-conspirators in the staged accident of Alice Hartley p>
Then the officer’s voice hardened. “In addition, you are all being taken into custody on multiple counts of reckless homicide related to Eastwind Air 1061 p>
“You! How could you?” a voice rang out. “So you did all that just to get rid of me?! Was it not enough that Victor made me miserable my whole life p>
When the police cleared the way, Serena came into view.
Serena was crying, but her fury was unmistakable. Her face burned red, her jaw clenched so tightly it ached, and the look in her eyes made it clear she was barely holding herself back.
“Had I taken that flight, my life, and the lives of my kids would have—” her voice broke as she suddenly charged forward, her hand raised. She clearly wanted to hit Vanessa. “You”
“Miss Vander, no p>
But before the police could intervene, Dennis grabbed Serena by the waist. “The police will handle this, Serena p>
He whispered a warning, reminding her they were in the public eye.
The police then surrounded Vanessa and her family. Matthew began to protest. “No -you can’t arrest us p>
“We have a warrant, sir,” the officer replied evenly. “And regarding the Eastwind Air charges, an arrest order has already been issued. With or without the physical copy in hand, this arrest is lawful p>
“No, this can’t be happening!” Vivian Holt cried. “This is a misunderstanding-no, this is Nathaniel’s doing! He’s framing us! He wanted Alice Hartley dead p>
“He—he also wanted the Eastwind Air flight to go down!” Vivian claimed.
As the police read them their rights, one officer scoffed. “Mrs. Holt, do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound? Mr. Thorne was the one who escalated the search for Alice Hartley, and he did the same with Eastwind Air 1061 p>
“He he did that so no one would ever suspect him!” Vivian screamed.
Meanwhile, Serena stood there, glaring at them.
Nathaniel’s ex-wife was provoking them.
“Your family is pure evil!” Serena barked. “How could you hurt innocent lives for your selfish reasons p>
She pointed at Vanessa and then her parents, while Dennis stood protectively beside her. “You calculated people’s deaths, weighed the cost, and decided it was acceptable, as long as I was out of the picture p>
“That way, your precious Vanessa could get whatever she wants?” A bitter laugh escaped Serena’s lips. “Yet despite everything, you still failed. You committed multiple crimes, but you failed to kill me, and you failed to kill my best friend p>
“What?” Vanessa reacted. She hadn’t even processed the evidence on the website. Everything had happened too fast; her only thought had been to flee. “That’s impossible! We made sure she didn’t survive p>
She clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing too late that she had given herself away.
“Heard that, officers?” Serena turned to them. “You are all witnesses to her admission p>
“No! No!” Vanessa screamed.
Gritting her teeth, Vanessa spat, “I hate you, Serena! I’ve always hated you ever since I learned the truth! How could you live in my place p>
“Like I ever wanted to live in your place?” Serena shot back. “Your father had me kidnapped! I was meant to have a better future than being raised as a Kline p>
“But—but,” Vanessa stammered. “Why did Nathan choose you? Even after you disappeared, he still chose you p>
“You’re a witch!” Vanessa shrieked. “You must have bewitched Nathan-ahhh p>
Vanessa didn’t see it coming.
Serena slapped her!
“Officer! She slapped me! That was assault!” Vanessa cried, her parents backing her up. “Arrest her! Now p>
Yes, Serena slapped Vanessa.
Even Dennis’s hold hadn’t been enough to stop her hand, which seemed to move on its own.
For all the pain she had endured under Victor, and for all the lives the Holts had destroyed, including Alice, Serena wished she could slap Vanessa more than once.
“What slap?” Serena stared at the lead officer. “Officer, did you see me slap a woman who killed every passenger and crew member of Eastwind Air 1061 p>
She scanned the officers with a thin smile. “Did anyone catch me slapping this thing? This remorseless murderer p>
“No, ma’am. No one slapped her,” one officer said. “She slapped herself p>
“Yeah. We all saw it p>
“She slapped herself, ma’am p>
“What? No!” Vanessa turned to her father. “Dad p>
Matthew was mortified. He screamed, “You can’t do this! We’ll report you, all of you p>
“With all due respect, Mr. Holt,” the lead officer replied calmly, “who do you think the court, or the public, will believe? uls of a murderer like you?” He motioned to his colleagues. “Let’s go. Take them to the station p>
Vanessa and her family were dragged away, shouting and struggling. The sight seemed to
snap something in Vanessa Serena watched the change cross her face the fury sharpening into something reckless.
Then Vanessa’s gaze landed on the glass bottle of sparkling water on the coffee
table.
It happened too fast.
Vanessa twisted violently, wrenching
one hand free from the cuffs. She
grabbed the bottle, smashed it against the floor, the broken glass flashing as she lunged toward Serena.
Serena’s heart raced!
She retreated, but it was too late.
The next thing she saw was blood.