Cross The Bridge
1301 Words
“I’ll need some time,” Thomas said, his voice hesitant. “To consider this carefully… and to plan.”
Victoria nodded. She was aware that her father was overwhelmed. As the family began to disperse, Thomas gently took her by the arm and led her away from the others, into a quiet corner of the house where they wouldn’t be overheard.
“Victoria…” He lowered his voice to a near whisper. “Is Alex really the adopted son of Heinrich Lancastriel?”
Victoria blinked, and her heart quickened. She had expected this question, but now that it was here, she had to be careful with her answer. Lying to her father was risky, but there was no turning back now.
“Yes, Father,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “He really is Mr. Lancastriel’s adopted son. Why else would Mr. Lancastriel’s steward have come all the way to see me personally? It’s all because of Alex. Nothing else.”
Thomas still looked skeptical, his brow furrowed deeply as he processed her words. He studied her face for a long moment before asking, “But how did you meet someone like him? A man with his background… and wealth?”
Victoria scrambled to fabricate a plausible lie. “We met online,” she said, keeping her tone casual, as if the story was perfectly natural. “It started out innocently enough, just chatting, but… well, we fell in love. I didn’t know who he really was at first. He was just Alex to me. But once he opened up about his family, I understood everything.”
Her father’s expression didn’t change. He seemed to be sifting through the layers of her story for the truth. “Online?” he repeated, clearly having a hard time believing it. “And you fell in love without knowing his true identity?”
“Yes,” Victoria insisted. “It wasn’t about his wealth or status. We connected on a personal level, beyond all of that. That’s why I didn’t tell you right away. I wanted to make sure it was real before getting anyone’s hopes up.”
Thomas struggled with the idea, but before he could press further, his expression shifted to something more calculating. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
Victoria’s heart sank. “What are you doing?” She tried to keep the nervousness out of her voice.
“I’m calling someone…”
***
Edward's fists clenched tightly around the edge of his desk. “What do you mean she’s involved with the Lancastriel family?” he barked over the phone. “This is absurd! We had an arrangement with Dorian Blackwood!”
“I know, Edward,” Thomas replied nervously. “But she claims that Alex is Heinrich Lancastriel’s adopted son. It’s complicated now, and we can’t ignore the possibility of—”
"Thomas..." Edward exhaled sharply, his rage intensifying. The truth was, he had deliberately kept the details hidden from the rest of the family.
His arrangement with Dorian Blackwood had been a quiet deal, struck behind closed doors, where he had accepted a sizable sum of money in exchange for ensuring Victoria’s marriage to Dorian. Now, with Victoria intent on breaking off the engagement, the entire deal was at risk of unraveling.
'This is a disaster,' Edward muttered to himself. 'I signed that contract with Dorian. There’s money involved, reputation...' His mind raced as he tried to come up with a way to salvage the situation. 'If the Blackwoods find out, I’ll be humiliated. But if this Alex is who he claims to be…'
Edward couldn’t afford to lose Dorian’s support, nor could he risk angering someone as powerful as Heinrich Lancastriel. The stakes had never been higher.
“I’ll handle this,” Edward finally said, his voice now measured. “I’ll meet with Dorian personally. We can’t let this situation spiral out of control.”
“What should I do in the meantime?” Thomas asked.
“Keep Victoria under control,” Edward ordered. “Don’t let her run around making reckless decisions. And as for this ‘Alex’... I want to be absolutely certain of his identity before anything else moves forward.”
Edward turned away from the phone, eyes narrowing in thought. He needed answers quickly. If Alex wasn’t who he claimed to be, the entire situation could be turned to his advantage. But if he truly was connected to the Lancastriel family, then Edward’s plans might have to shift drastically.
He glanced at his younger nephew, who had been silently listening in the room.
“Kingsley,” Edward said sharply. “I want you to find out if Mr. Heinrich Lancastriel actually has an adopted son. Use any resources you have to verify this, and do it discreetly. I can’t afford any mistakes here.”
Kingsley gave a slight nod. “I’ll get it done,” he replied confidently, pulling out his phone to start making calls and connections.
Edward shifted his focus back to the matter at hand. He needed to calm Dorian Blackwood fast and ensure that the engagement wasn’t derailed by this supposed Lancastriel.
If he played his cards right, Edward might still come out of this on top.
Grabbing his coat, he prepared to leave for his meeting with Dorian. He would have to tread carefully, but he was confident that he could manage both the Blackwoods and the emerging Lancastriel threat. One way or another, he wasn’t about to let Victoria ruin his plans.
No way.
***
Alex and Victoria sat together in her family’s parlor. She fidgeted, glancing nervously at Alex, who seemed entirely too calm for her liking. "Are you sure you’re not afraid?" she asked. "I mean... if Edward and Dorian find out the truth, we’ll both be in trouble."
Alex gave her a reassuring smile, leaning back comfortably. “I’m not afraid. Don’t worry about me,” he said with complete confidence. “I’ve handled worse situations. This is nothing.”
Despite his nonchalant tone, Victoria couldn’t shake the creeping dread. "You may not be afraid," she said softly, "but Dorian is ruthless. If he suspects anything, it could ruin everything."
Just as Alex was about to respond, the door creaked open, and Thomas appeared in the doorway. His expression was grim as he stepped into the room.
“Edward is bringing Dorian here,” Thomas announced. “Apparently, Dorian is acquainted with Mr. Heinrich Lancastriel. He insists on seeing you both.”
Victoria’s heart skipped a beat. The color drained from her face as the weight of the situation settled in. “Dorian knows Mr. Lancastriel?” she gasped. “How could this be happening?”
The walls closed in on her as she realized that Dorian’s arrival could be the end of their charade. If Dorian truly knew Heinrich, then Alex’s impersonation as his adopted son would be exposed in mere moments.
Once Thomas bid farewell, Victoria murmured, “We’re doomed.” She rose to her feet. “Dorian will see right through this... he’ll know you aren't who we claimed you are. What are we going to do?”
Alex remained seated, his gaze steady. “Victoria,” he said firmly, causing her to stop in her tracks and look at him. “Panicking won’t help. Just follow my lead.”
She stared at him. “Follow your lead? Alex, they’re going to figure out that you’re not really Mr. Lancastriel’s son! What if they—"
“Trust me,” Alex interrupted. “I’ll get us through this.”
Victoria swallowed, nodding. “But what if they figure it out? What do we do then?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Alex replied, standing up and adjusting his jacket.
- Writer
