#Chapter 123 – To Good to be True

Victor can’t keep the smile off his face as, a little bit later, he trudges through the snow back to his house.

It was just so unbelievably good, these past few hours, to spend time as a family, to sleep with Evelyn where she belonged, wrapped in his arms. Even the stupid mundane things, like doing dishes with the boys and helping them pick a cereal, made him feel complete in a way that he hadn’t known before that he was missing.

Thank god Amelia locked the boys in that cabinet, he thinks to himself, laughing at the terrible thought. But really, it saved him from making a horrible, horrible mistake.

But now? Everything was just…falling into place. Like his therapist had said – when things are all going in the same direction, suddenly everything is…easy.

When Victor enters his house, the rest of his family is sitting in his kitchen, eating the breakfast that the chef has cooked up for them. Bacon, poached eggs, sausage, buttered biscuits. He smiles at everyone there, unable to help himself. Undoubtedly, the food served in this house is better, but he wouldn’t have given up the cold bowl of cereal he had that morning for it. Not for a second.

“Good morning,” he says, closing the door behind him.

“Good morning, darling,” his mother says, coming forward and giving him a curious smile. “Everything all right down at Evelyn’s? I heard something about the heat being off.”

“Yes,” Victor says, running a hand through his hair. He still can’t believe that Alvin and Ian arranged it all as some kind of parent trap. Even more than that, he can’t believe that it worked. “But it’s better now.”

“Good,” she says, moving over to the coffee machine. “Do you want a cup?”

“Yes,” Victor says, ignoring the narrow looks that the rest of his family – Bridgette aside – give him for staying out all night. They’re the ones who called his power into question for not having a Luna by his side. Well, now he does. Or at least, he will very soon.

Taking the cup of coffee from his mother, Victor heads immediately to his office to get to work. As he enters, Beta Stephen follows him in.

“Stephen,” Victor says, smiling at his secretary as he settles into his chair. Stephen freezes before him, looking at him strangely. Victor frowns at him, confused, but then realizes that he’s probably never smiled at the man before. Victor clears his throat and arranges his face along more serious lines, folding his hands in front of him.

Then, he tries again. “Do you have a report, Beta?”

Stephen shakes his head, as if to clear it, and then responds. “Yes, sir. An…interesting message, from Annabeth Prath came through last night.” He hands him a grey file folder. “I think you’ll want to address this first.”

and nods his dismissal. Stephen leaves him alone

Prath called last night, approx. 10:30, to tenure her resignation from the board of the Prath Institute and ask that her name be stricken from the title of the school. She has indicated that she will be directing her time, attention, and funds elsewhere in the

change, Victor picks up his phone,

he says to the receptionist who answers the phone. “I’d like to speak to

few moments for Annabeth to come to the phone. When she does,

she says. “What can

a disturbing memo this morning, letting me know

received word, Victor,” she says, her voice aloof, as if she has merely deigned to talk to him

never once mislead you about my politics, about my investment in education or

calling him by his first name. “Don’t bother to lie to me any further about your politics. I know exactly where you stand when it comes to families. I just can’t believe

“Annabeth, please –“

if

As far as I am aware, you and I are on the same team, dedicated to the same mission to

her voice scathing. “I’m sure she can help you better understand. Good day, Alpha Kensington.

she hangs up. Victor lowers his phone and stares at the black screen in his hand. Who the hell

“Sir?”

around the door to his office. “Yes?”

see that he has a packet in his hands. “I hope you will forgive me, but I have been doing some private reconnaissance in the past two weeks. Just for my

his eyebrows

post with a family which I quite like, and which I would like to keep, I find that I become quite dedicated to that family. Dedicated to ensuring that they…fare well in the

nods, encouraging

and yourself. And so I took it upon

Betas on the same project. Amelia has been in San

in the same home with them for years, she knows quite

on the desk and

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