Chapter 385

Eleanor's entire body went rigid at Victoria's venomous words.

Her bandaged hand shook violently as she shoved open the visitation room door.

The sudden intrusion made all three occupants jump.

"Mrs. Kingsley!" Margaret sprang up from her seat, panic flashing across her face. "What are you doing here?"

Victoria's initial shock melted into practiced concern. "Mother? What happened to your hand?" Her voice dripped with false sweetness, the earlier malice completely erased.

Eleanor ignored the charade, her gaze boring into Victoria's delicate features. "Those words you just screamed - did you mean them?"

Victoria's eyes widened slightly. She realized Eleanor must have overheard her earlier outburst.

"You misunderstood, Mother. I was just-"

"Don't lie to me!" Eleanor's voice cracked like ice, tears of betrayal welling in her eyes. "You've been deceiving me this whole time! You're not my daughter! How could I have believed such a monstrous lie?"

Margaret interjected desperately, "We never lied, Mrs. Kingsley! The birthmark, the DNA test - they all prove Victoria is your daughter!"

"Birthmark?" Eleanor let out a bitter laugh. "Now I understand why you visited that tattoo parlor last week."

Victoria and Margaret exchanged a loaded glance.

They hadn't anticipated Eleanor knowing about that.

"That wasn't a birthmark - it was ink! You had someone tattoo it on you!" Eleanor's accusation hung in the air.

Both women fell silent.

"And the DNA test was faked too, wasn't it?" Eleanor's voice trembled with rage as Victoria's eyes hardened. "You're a monster, Victoria Lancaster! I defended you, protected you, even helped you against Vivian after all your atrocities! And this is how you repay me?"

"Mrs. Kingsley, please, you're misunderstanding-"

"Enough." Victoria cut Margaret off coldly, her gaze turning predatory as she met Eleanor's eyes. "You're right. I'm not your daughter."

The admission hit Eleanor like a physical blow.

She said it.

Victoria wasn't hers!

"Then Vivian was telling the truth all along." Regret flooded Eleanor as she remembered every cruel word she'd said to Vivian.

Victoria smirked cruelly. "Better start thinking of ways to get me out of here, Eleanor. Unless you want to never see your real daughter again."

Eleanor's breath caught. "You know where Sophia is?"

"Of course. How else would I have gotten that locket?" Victoria rose gracefully. "We're done here. Officer?"

As Victoria moved to leave, Eleanor lunged forward. "Wait! Tell me where my daughter is!"

Victoria tossed a chilling smile over her shoulder. "Get me released first. And if you breathe a word of this to anyone..." Her threat hung in the air.

"Victoria Lancaster! Stop right there!"

But Victoria was already walking away.

Seeing their chance, Margaret and Richard quickly followed. Eleanor chased after them.

William, waiting in the car, saw the trio burst from the jail doors with Eleanor in pursuit. Sensing trouble, he immediately jumped out and ran toward the commotion.