chapter 5

The Montgomery estate was bathed in a soft morning light, but nothing could thaw the coldness in Amelia Montgomery’s eyes. She sat in her opulent sitting room, her perfect posture a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing inside her. The clock ticked steadily, a rhythm that only amplified the chaos of recent events.

The phone on the side table rang, slicing through the quiet. With practiced elegance, Amelia lifted the receiver, her voice cool and controlled.

“Yes?”

“Mother, it’s done,” Victor’s voice was smooth, almost too smooth. “Jacob was found dead this morning. The news is already spreading like wildfire.”

Amelia’s lips twisted into a small, satisfied smile. “Finally. I was beginning to wonder if you’d lost your edge. Any complications?”

“None,” Victor replied, a hint of smugness in his tone. “Jacob’s out of the picture for good. It was almost too easy.”

“Of course, it was,” Amelia sneered. “Jacob was always pathetic. Too weak to survive in this world, let alone in our family. His death is nothing but a favor to the world.”

Victor’s laughter echoed through the line, dark and mocking. “He was always a fool, wasn’t he? Pathetically clinging to some twisted notion of morality. As if that would save him.”

Amelia’s eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with disdain. “Morality is for the weak, Victor. Fools like Jacob, who couldn’t see the bigger picture. His existence was a stain on our legacy, a constant reminder of our failure to purge weakness from our bloodline.”

Victor’s tone hardened. “He was an embarrassment, Mother. But now that’s been rectified. With him gone, there’s nothing holding us back.”

“Indeed,” Amelia said, her smile widening. “The stain has been removed, and with it, the last remnants of our family’s disgrace. We can finally move forward, unburdened by his pathetic presence.”

There was a pause, then Victor’s voice softened, tinged with a rare sincerity. “I did what had to be done, Mother. For the family.”

Amelia’s gaze turned steely, her voice unwavering. “You did what was necessary, Victor. Remember that. Jacob’s death is not a tragedy; it’s a necessity—a means to an end.”

“And Lena?” Victor asked, his voice laced with venom. “She’s no better than Jacob. A stupid girl who thought she could manipulate her way into our family’s fortune.”

Amelia’s expression darkened, her voice a cold whisper. “Lena is a loose end that needs to be tied up. Handle her, Victor. She’s not worth any more of our time.”

Victor’s chuckle was low and dangerous. “Consider it done. I’ll make sure she regrets ever crossing us.”

“Good,” Amelia replied, her tone sharp. “Our family’s legacy is far too important to be jeopardized by the likes of them. The weak deserve their fate.”

Victor’s voice was firm, resolute. “Rest assured, Mother, no one will mourn Jacob. He’ll be forgotten soon enough, just another casualty of his own foolishness.”

Amelia’s smile returned, a cruel, satisfied curve of her lips. “As he should be. He was never worthy of the Montgomery name. The world is better off without him.”

Victor’s voice took on a cold edge. “He thought he could defy us, but in the end, he was nothing. A nobody. Just like the rest of the filth we’ve had to clean out of our lives.”

“Exactly,” Amelia agreed, her voice laced with contempt. “He’s out of the way, and now we can proceed without any more obstacles.”

Victor’s tone softened slightly, showing a rare hint of vulnerability. “Thank you, Mother, for your trust. I’ve always known what needed to be done to protect our family’s interests.”

“And you’ve done well,” Amelia said, her voice carrying a rare note of approval. “But don’t get comfortable. This is just the beginning. We have much more work ahead of us.”

Victor’s determination was clear. “I’ll take care of everything. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

“Good,” Amelia said, her tone dismissive. “Keep me informed of any developments. And Victor… make sure Jacob’s memory is erased. I want no reminders of his existence.”

“Understood, Mother,” Victor replied, his voice resolute. “He’s already forgotten.”

Amelia hung up the phone, a sense of satisfaction settling over her. The day had only just begun, but she knew the real test lay ahead. Jacob had always been a thorn in their side, a constant reminder of everything she despised. He was a weakling, unworthy of the Montgomery name, and now, finally, he was nothing but a memory—a bad dream that had been erased.

She rose from her chair and moved to the large window overlooking the estate’s manicured gardens. The beauty of the scene did little to calm the storm within her. The door opened, and the family maid, Eleanor, entered with a tray of tea.

“Good morning, Mrs. Montgomery,” Eleanor said with a polite smile. “I’ve brought your tea.”

“Thank you, Eleanor,” Amelia replied, her voice regaining its usual composure. “Place it on the table and make sure the staff is informed about the burial arrangements.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Eleanor replied, bowing slightly before exiting the room.

Amelia took a sip of her tea, savoring the warmth that contrasted sharply with the icy resolve in her heart. The tranquility of the estate seemed to mock the chaos she had orchestrated, but Amelia found a perverse satisfaction in it. After all, wasn’t this what she had always wanted? To be rid of the weak, to cleanse the family of its impurities?

But her ringing phone shattered the silence once more, bringing her back to the present.

She answered it quickly, her voice curt. “Yes?”

“Mother, it’s me again,” Victor’s voice was tense, his usually smooth tone edged with urgency. “There’s been an unexpected development.”

“What is it?” Amelia’s tone sharpened, her patience wearing thin.

“There’s speculation about foul play in Jacob’s death. The news coverage is intense.”

Amelia’s eyes narrowed, a frown creasing her brow. “We accounted for every detail. This shouldn’t be happening.”

“I’m handling it,” Victor said quickly. “I’ve already arranged for a few narratives. Mother, you should also be preparing for the burial.”

Amelia’s gaze turned icy. “I will. Make sure there are no loose ends. We can’t afford any distractions.”

Victor sighed, a rare moment of exasperation slipping through his controlled demeanor. “Don’t worry, Mother. Everything will be taken care of. By the time they realize anything, it’ll be too late.”

“See that it is, Victor,” Amelia snapped, her voice carrying a finality that brooked no argument. “Remember, no loose ends. None.”

“Understood,” Victor responded, his voice clipped.

“Good,” Amelia said, her tone dismissive. “Keep me informed of any further developments.”

Amelia hung up and took another sip of her tea, her mind already shifting to the next phase of their plans. She knew that despite the calm exterior she projected, a storm was brewing beneath the surface. The world would soon see the full extent of the Montgomery family’s power, and those who dared to defy them would be swept aside without mercy.

As she finished her tea, a sense of finality settled over her. The day was just beginning, but Amelia knew the true test lay ahead. She glanced once more out the window, the serene garden a stark contrast to the ruthlessness she embodied.

Meanwhile, in the cold, sterile environment of the city morgue, the room was eerily quiet. Jacob’s body lay on one of the metal slabs, covered by a white sheet. The mortician, absorbed in his paperwork, didn’t notice the subtle changes occurring beneath the sheet.

A corpse's fingers twitched.