She was in the clear, for now. As she was getting closer to her due date and no one came for her, she was feeling safer.
She stopped looking over her shoulder whenever she heard a noise. She rented a room under a different name, paying only cash.
The owner didn't mind. She was an older lady and probably thought Victoria was running from an abusive husband. Which the old woman wasn't wrong. It just wasn't a husband she was running from.
When she least expected it, her water broke. She was in labor at 2 in the morning. The old woman ran in and helped her back into bed.
"Okay dear, everything is going to be okay. Just breathe", she said.
Victoria did just as she said. Also knowing what to do from watching her sister. She didn't realize her sister felt pain.
The old woman lifted her night gown and nodded.
"You aren't fully dilated yet. I wish I had something to help with the pain but I don't. Let me call an ambulance for you. You need a doctor, dear", the old woman said.
"No, please. He'll find me", Victoria said through her breathing.
The old woman nodded and went to grab some towels and hot water. She was in labor for almost six hours before there was a loud banging on the front door.
"One of the neighbors must have heard your screams and called police. Don't worry, I will explain everything", the old woman said.
Victoria nodded.
"How can I help you?", she heard the old woman say, before she heard gunshots.
Victoria sat up and watched the door. She swallowed. She was about to call for the old woman when her sister appeared with a smile.
"You really thought you could run and hide? Do you know who my husband is? Do you really think I learned nothing from watching him work?", Raya asked.
Victoria tried to swallow, but her throat was dry. Their dad appeared next with the women who helped Raya during her birth.
She cried as she pushed and pushed. She wanted to so badly get up and run. Then she heard the tiny cry and looked at the woman between her legs.
"Its a girl", she said, looking at Raya and her dad.
Their dad growled before stomping away. Raya looked angry as well.
"Let me keep her. She is of no use to you", Tori cried.
Raya looked at her.
"That wasn't the plan, ever. He is going to know I had a baby. When he does a paternity test, it has to say he is the father and it will", Raya said.
The woman wrapped the baby before handing her to Victoria. She was beautiful. Raya got closer to her sister.
"And if you think about claiming the child I will make sure you never see her again. I will drown her in a tub and then ship her lifeless body to you in pieces. Don't test me, Tori, you know I will", Raya said.
Victoria cried. Raya grabbed the baby from her sister's arms and stood.
"I will let you name her, though. So, what is it?", Raya said.
"Bayley", she replied.
Raya rolled her eyes.
"Not something I would have picked, but, I guess it will do.", Raya said.
"Can I hold her one more time? Just give me an hour with her", Victoria asked.
Raya chuckled.
"No can do. The less time you spend with her, the better", Raya replied.
"Raya…", their dad cut her off.
"She said no, but as for what we are going to do with you, you'll be going to an all girls school your last year. Since you decided to run off", her dad said.
"You just don't want me to claim my child", Tori said.
"She is not yours.", her dad yelled, waking Bayley and making her cry loudly.
"Raya, please, don't take my baby", Victoria cried.
Her sister looked right at her.
"She is mine", Raya replied.
Raya walked out as Tori screamed for them to bring Bayley back.
"I'm sorry that happened to you. I couldn't imagine it being me.", Brie said softly.
Tori wiped her tears.
"I took too long, I know, but I had nothing to offer. When they did let me see her and spend time with her, it was limited and there was a nanny always watching", Tori said.
Bayley felt bad for the way she treated her before.
"I wanted to tell your dad, I did, but I was afraid of mine. I wanted Bay safe", Tori said.
Victoria couldn't focus on school. Her mind always on her baby. Was Raya taking care of her? If she treated her own children badly, what would stop her from hurting Bayley.
Then she smiled. Ben would. He would make sure the girls were always safe, even from their own mother.
There was also another reason to be happy about. She was going home and she could see her little girl again.
Winter break took too long to come around. Her dad had shipped her far away. She couldn't leave school grounds unless she had permission from her guardian, which was her dad.
He made sure she couldn't.
There was a car waiting for her to take her to the airport. Her sister had gotten her a private jet, which she was also afraid of getting on.
What if she decided to kill her this way? She wouldn't put it past her sister.
Once in Mexico, a driver took her to Raya's house. Their dad had moved into the guest house since getting sick.
Her sister was waiting for her at the front door. Raya smiled, which was fake.
"Tori, its so good to finally have you home. We missed you around here.", her sister said, hugging her tight.
"Missed you too", she mumbled.
Raya leaned into her ear.
"Don't overstep, sister or you will be shipped back to that school in a second.", Raya whispered.
Tori nodded. She wasn't going to do anything to spoil her time with Bayley.
Raya pulled away and walked her to her room. It was right next to the playroom. She could hear tiny laughter. She smiled and looked around.
Melina and the twins were playing. No Bayley.
"Where is my…", Raya turned on her heels quick.
"Your what?", Raya asked.
"My, niece Bayley", she corrected.
"Asleep. She is a baby after all.", Raya replied.
Tori nodded. Raya opened the door and let her in.
"So, he believed it", Tori mumbled.
"Of course he did. I mean, he believed that she was mine. He took a test to make sure she was his and she is", Raya said.
Tori nodded.
"Get some sleep, I'm sure you're jetlagged. Then I will let you see my daughter", Raya said.
Tori nodded.
She couldn't really sleep. She was excited to see Bayley. To hold her and give her plenty of kisses.
Once changed, she walked out of the room. The girls weren't in the playroom anymore.
Raya came out of another room.
"I thought I heard you. Come on", Raya said, gesturing her into the room.
Tori entered and froze. A nanny held Bayley in her arms. She slowly walked over. Raya grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Ten minutes. The nanny is staying in here with you.", Raya explained.
Tori nodded. The nanny handed the baby to her and Tori cried softly while kissing and smelling her baby.
"Hi my little love", she whispered.
The nurse stayed by the door as Tori just stared at her baby. Tapping her little nose and her chin.
"Hey", she flinched and turned to see Ben.
He smiled and walked into the room.
"I heard you were coming home. School keeps you away and so busy", he said, looking over her shoulder at his daughter.
The way that he looked at her was everything. She was his world. There was nothing more important than his baby girls.
"Yeah. I've missed so much", she replied.
"You'll be here a few days, plenty of time to catch up", he said, smiling at her.
She nodded. He left the room and the nurse came over to her.
"Your time is up, Miss", she said.
Tori looked at her sadly.
"Please, five more minutes?", she begged.
"I'm sorry, I can't. She is timing it and if you don't go down with the family now, we are both done for", the nurse whispered.
Tori sighed and nodded. Handing the baby to the nurse. She wanted her daughter back. The only way to do that, was to tell Ben.
He could help.
She couldn't eat. She also couldn't sleep. Sneaking into her daughter's nursery and watching her sleep.
Ben watched her from the camera. He had it set up to keep an eye on the new baby.
Twice she did that. Making it a point to speak to her about it.