Alice’s POV
The message doesn’t make sense to me, not fully. My fingers hover over my phone for a second before I dial the private investigator’s number. It rings… and rings… and rings. No answer.
A knot tightens in my chest.
I hang up, then immediately call again.
Finally, he picks up.
“Hello, miss.”
His calm voice only makes me more anxious.
“The message you sent… is it true?” My voice comes out smaller than I expect, almost fragile.
“Yes, miss. One hundred percent true. Victor is not to be trusted.”
The words hit me like ice water.
For a moment, I can’t breathe. A chill runs down my spine, and I lower myself slowly onto the edge of the bed, afraid my legs might give out.
“But…” I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry. “I called him the moment I noticed my dad was
