Chapter 12: The Woman Behind the War
The woman walked into the toy store like she owned it.
No hesitation.
No fear.
The people outside moved aside for her.
Daniel lowered his head slightly.
Not respect.
Something closer to caution.
Nia noticed.
And that scared her.
Because Daniel had never looked cautious before.
The woman removed her gloves.
Her eyes moved through the store.
First to Bear.
Then to Nia.
Then to the box.
“I knew you would find it eventually.””
Bear stared.
“You.””
Her lips curved into a small smile.
“Yes.””
Nia looked at him.
“You know her?””
Bear’s expression was unreadable.
“Yes.””
“Who is she?””
The woman answered herself.
“My name is Victoria Cross.””
Daniel’s sister.
Nia felt the pieces moving.
“Cross?””
Victoria looked at her.
“Yes.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don’t involve her.””
Victoria looked at him.
“You stopped having that choice thirty years ago.””
The room went silent.
Nia looked between them.
“You two are family?””
Victoria nodded.
“Unfortunately.””
Daniel’s face tightened.
“You don’t know what you’re doing.””
Victoria smiled.
“I know exactly what I’m doing.””
Bear moved closer to Nia.
“Stay behind me.””
She looked at him.
“No.””
“Nia.””
“No.””
She held the box.
“If everyone else gets to decide my life, then I don’t have one.””
For a moment, Bear didn’t argue.
Maybe because he finally understood.
Victoria watched them.
“You really are like her.””
Nia frowned.
“Like who?””
“Your grandmother.””
That name again.
Everyone connected to her.
Everyone carrying pieces of her.
Victoria looked at the box.
“She was the only person who ever truly scared me.””
Daniel laughed.
“She was old and powerless.””
Victoria looked at him.
“And she still beat you.””
Daniel’s face darkened.
Nia noticed something.
The powerful man who had controlled every conversation was losing control.
Victoria walked toward the counter.
“She hid the evidence where no one would think to look.””
Nia looked at the box.
“Here?””
Victoria nodded.
“She knew Daniel loved controlling important places.””
Nia looked around.
“A toy store?””
“She knew he would never search somewhere connected to happiness.””
Bear looked at the princess dolls.
A sad smile appeared.
“Your grandmother was smart.””
Nia looked at him.
“You knew she hid it here?””
“No.””
“Then why did you come here?””
Bear looked at the tower of dolls.
“Because I remembered.””
“What?””
“The last place I saw you.””
Nia went quiet.
“You saw me here?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“The day your mother took you away.””
Her breath caught.
“You were there?””
Bear nodded.
“I watched you leave.””
“Why didn’t you stop her?””
His answer was immediate.
“Because she was crying.””
Nia looked at him.
“She told me if I loved you, I had to let you go.””
Silence.
Even Daniel looked away.
Victoria spoke softly.
“She was right.””
Everyone turned.
Victoria continued.
“Because if Bear had stayed, Daniel would have used you to destroy him.””
Nia looked at Daniel.
“You really would have?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
And that was enough.
Victoria stepped closer.
“There is one more thing in that box.””
Nia looked down.
“What?””
“A letter.””
“I already found one.””
“Not that one.””
Victoria pointed.
“Under the hidden compartment.””
Nia opened it.
There was another folded paper.
Older.
Different handwriting.
Her father’s.
Her heart stopped.
“My father wrote this?””
Bear’s eyes filled.
“Yes.””
She opened it.
The first line was simple.
*Nia, if you ever meet Bear, know this: he spent his life trying to bring you home.*
She covered her mouth.
Then she read the next sentence.
And everything changed.
Because her father’s letter didn’t warn her about Daniel.
It warned her about someone else.
Someone standing in the room.
Someone she had trusted.
Someone who had helped raise her.
The letter said:
*The person you should never trust is the one who tells you they are protecting you.*
Nia slowly looked up.
Her eyes moved from Bear…
To her mother.
And then to Victoria.
May you like
Because suddenly, she realized the truth was still incomplete.
And someone in that room was still lying.
