Author's note: First of all, I really want to apologize for not publishing anything for such a long time! The problem is that the last season of Revenge just killed my creativity. I hated how they treated the characters and how the plot developed, especially of course in terms of Victoria's and David's relationship. I was so angry during the last season that I couldn't continue writing this story. Still, I managed to finish this chapter and decided to share it with you. From the beginning I had a concept of the storyline and I was excited to write it, but now I don't feel like continuing the story anymore. So I'm very sorry if I disappoint you, but I hope you can enjoy this chapter.

Victoria didn't know why but she still felt like she could trust her father-in-law. She had always been on good terms with him and at times she had even thought of him as the father she had never had. Even though she knew exactly about his countless affairs and how he liked to play around with women, Edward had always treated Victoria very respectfully, sometimes even defending her against his own son and more importantly his wife.

"Let's take a seat." Edward offered her a chair, which she gladly took and let Daniel sit on her lap.

"So, Victoria, first of all I want to know if the things my son has told me are true." He began soberly, sitting on the opposite side of the kitchen table.

"It depends on what exactly he has said." Victoria didn't care if Daniel would hear everything they would discuss. She just wanted to hold her son, feeling less lonely with the security of his head resting on her shoulder and his hands encircled with her own.

"Well, let's make it quick: he said that you had an affair with David Clarke that must have been going on for more than 6 months now and that you decided to run away with him and take Daniel away from his father." Victoria interrupted him.

"You are right about that, but I didn't run away with David just to hurt Conrad. I did it, because I won't let an innocent man go to jail for someone else's despicable actions. And I'm sure you know every detail of that plan, because Conrad neither has the guts nor the brains to go through with such a plan." All off a sudden Victoria felt brave. She was determined to defend her decision since she remembered how much she would have wanted someone to do the same for her 20 years ago. How she would have needed someone to believe in her innocence saving her from being punished as a murderer and her mother's tyranny. Although she constantly fought to not let her past define who she was today, she allowed herself to use the memory as a confirmation of the importance of her intention to free David.

Edward Grayson wrinkled his nose at Victoria's sharp comment and how she knew about his involvement. "Conrad also told me that you carry David Clarke's child and that you intend to keep it. I have to admit, that I actually thought you had fooled my son again by faking a pregnancy, now that I know that Eleanor has been right about your first pregnancy all along. But now that I've seen you myself, it's hard to deny it."

At that point Victoria had to swallow. He knew. And not only did he know about her current pregnancy but he had also found out about the trick she had used to trap Conrad into marriage. She didn't know what to answer and just pulled Daniel closer to her chest.

"Come on, Victoria. Talk to me." Edward leaned forward in his chair staring his daughter-in-law into the eyes. "I've always defended you. I need to know if this is true. Do you really want to keep that baby?"

Victoria raised her head determinedly. "Yes, of course I want to keep the baby. What do you think? Daniel will have a little brother or sister."

"Okay, fine." Edward put his hands on the table. "But Conrad will be his or her father."

"What?" Victoria couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"I'm saying that you can have this baby as long as you don't tell anyone who its real father is. Conrad will be its father and no one will ever doubt that. You will stay with Conrad and you will be protected as a Grayson family member. You'll have all the money in the world, you can keep your social status and you'll live with your children. Isn't that what you really want, Victoria?" Edward patted his daughter-in-law's trembling hand and looked right into her face while she had closed her eyes trying to process what he had just suggested.

Yes, being with her children really was what she had always wanted. They could have a carefree childhood so different from the one she had experienced. It sounded so tempting.

"What will happen to David?" Victoria's eyes flew open facing Edward who already looked very triumphant.

"David Clarke is a criminal and will be punished as such." Edward's face hardened. "There's nothing you can do for him Victoria. It's over."

"It's you. You're the monster. It's not Conrad, it's you. Your son is only trying to live up to your expectancies. I won't let David go down because of your cruelty."

"Come on, Vicky. I thought you were smart." Edward let out a haughty laugh. "You're the one who brought poor David Clarke into this in the first place. Your affair made him our target."

"That is not true!" Victoria said through gritted teeth, anger building up inside of her.

"Don't make fun of yourself! Of course you know that it's true! You felt lonely and missed getting affection from your husband so you decided to be selfish and you chose David to make you feel better. You wrapped him around your little finger like you did with Conrad and God knows who else before. You are not the victim in this, Victoria. So come to your senses and be a Grayson again."

Victoria was boiling, not solely because of the things Edward was accusing her of, but because deep inside of her she felt like those things were partly true. All of a sudden she felt incredibly guilty. Was it really her fault?

"I see you begin to understand my point." Edward rose from his chair looking down onto his daughter-in-law who looked like the world was crumbling beneath her feet.

"I need time" Victoria managed to say and Edward expectantly rose his eyebrow. "I need time to think about your proposition."

"Okay. You have time until tonight." Edward nodded.

"And Daniel will stay here with me."

"But I'll leave someone outside the house to watch you and make sure you don't do something stupid." Edward reached out his hand. "Do we have a deal?"

"Yes, we have." Victoria took Edward's hand and shook it.

"I really do hope you come to your senses and stay with our family, Vicky. I've always been so proud of you and it would be heartbreaking to see Daniel losing his mother." He sent her a devious smile, turned around and left the house.

Victoria automatically let out a deep breath she hadn't noticed she had been holding back. What did she just do? She had agreed to a deal with Edward Grayson. She couldn't decide how her life should go on in just a matter of a few hours. Being separated from Daniel was an unbearable thought, but turning her back on David was just as bad.

"Mommy?" Daniel asked shyly and lovingly stroked his mother's face which was frozen from shock.

Pulled from her thoughts, Victoria looked into her son's watery eyes. "I'm sorry, Dany." She took his hands and gave him a kiss.

"I don't want you to go away again."

She didn't know what to say to that as she faced the scared look on her son's face. Of course, she couldn't lose Daniel again, but she couldn't make false promises to him either.

"Oh, Dany, I'll do everything to make sure that'll never happen again." That was all she could say in her hopeless situation. She had absolutely no idea how she should decide, how her future would look or if she could ever lead a normal life at all.

Again thank you for reading! Your comments and interest in the story mean so much to me, I didn't think anyone would like the stuff I write and actually be excited about every new chapter. I'm so grateful for all of your support! xoxo