Chapter 5 - Victoria Comes Back Bleeding
Arthur doubled security before sunset.
Every window was checked.
Every lock changed.
The security cameras revealed something worse.
Nothing.
Whoever entered Elena’s room had known exactly where the cameras could not see.
Daniel stared at the monitor.
“This person knows your house.”
Arthur thought of Victoria.
Then he remembered the words she mouthed.
DON’T TRUST.
At 11:47 p.m., the gate alarm sounded.
Arthur checked the camera.
Victoria stood outside.
Alone.
Barefoot.
Her designer dress was torn at one shoulder.
There was a bruise near her temple.
Arthur opened the gate remotely.
Victoria stumbled inside.
He met her at the door.
“What happened?”
She looked behind her.
“Close it.”
Arthur didn’t move.
“Victoria.”
“Close the damn door.”
Arthur let her inside.
She collapsed against the wall.
Daniel came from the study.
Victoria saw him.
“No.”
“He stays.”
“No lawyers.”
Arthur stared at her.
“You lost the right to make demands.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You still think this is about our marriage?”
Arthur folded his arms.
“Start talking.”
Victoria looked toward the staircase.
“Where are Maya and Ethan?”
“Safe.”
“Good.”
Arthur’s expression changed.
“Why?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Because my father is going to take them.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“He’ll have to kill me first.”
“That can be arranged.”
Silence.
Victoria looked at him.
“You think my family is powerful because we have money.”
Arthur said nothing.
“We have money because we’re powerful.”
“What does Charles want?”
“The drive.”
“What’s on it?”
Victoria shook her head.
“I don’t know everything.”
Arthur laughed.
“Convenient.”
“I’m serious.”
“You attacked my children.”
Victoria flinched at the word my.
“You know.”
“Yes.”
She looked down.
Arthur stepped closer.
“You knew before we married.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since before I met you.”
Arthur stared at her.
The betrayal felt strangely calm now.
Too large for anger.
“You married me because of them.”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“At first.”
Arthur laughed once.
“At first.”
“I was supposed to get close to you.”
“Why?”
“My father believed Elena had hidden evidence with you.”
“She didn’t.”
“We didn’t know that.”
“So you married me.”
“Yes.”
“And searched my house.”
Victoria looked away.
“Yes.”
Arthur’s hands curled into fists.
“You watched me grieve Elena.”
“Yes.”
“You watched those children grow up.”
“Yes.”
“You knew they were mine.”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing.”
Victoria’s voice broke.
“Yes.”
Arthur turned away.
He couldn’t look at her.
Maya was standing upstairs again.
This time nobody had noticed.
“You knew?”
Victoria looked up.
Maya slowly descended.
“You knew Arthur was our father?”
“Maya…”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
Maya’s face crumpled.
“Why did you hate us?”
Victoria stared at her.
“I didn’t.”
“You hit Ethan.”
“I know.”
“You hit me.”
“I know.”
“You tried to take Mom’s letter.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“I know.”
Maya stopped three feet away.
“Why?”
Victoria finally answered.
“Because I was terrified.”
“Of us?”
“No.”
Victoria looked toward Arthur.
“Of what your mother left behind.”
Arthur’s voice hardened.
“Tell me.”
Victoria shook her head.
“My father will kill me.”
Arthur stared at the bruise on her face.
“He already tried.”
Victoria gave a humorless smile.
“That was my brother.”
Arthur knew Victoria had an older brother.
Sebastian Whitmore.
He had met him only twice.
“What does Sebastian have to do with this?”
“Everything.”
Victoria sat down.
“Twenty-two years ago, my father started buying distressed companies through intermediaries.”
“Legal.”
“Not the way he did it.”
She swallowed.
“He would secretly sabotage companies first.”
Arthur stared at her.
“Sabotage how?”
“Loans would disappear.”
“Contracts would collapse.”
“Regulators would suddenly investigate.”
“Then Whitmore money would arrive and buy everything for pennies.”
Daniel’s expression darkened.
“Corporate predation.”
Victoria nodded.
“Elena found the financial trail.”
Arthur frowned.
“How?”
“She worked for Whitmore Holdings.”
Arthur froze.
Elena had told him she worked in private accounting.
She never named the firm.
Victoria continued.
“She discovered shell companies moving money through dozens of businesses.”
“Including mine.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To frame you if necessary.”
Arthur stared at her.
Victoria whispered.
“You were the emergency exit.”
Arthur felt sick.
“If the government ever discovered the transfers, the evidence would point toward you.”
Daniel cursed under his breath.
Arthur looked at Victoria.
“And Elena?”
“She copied everything.”
“She threatened your father?”
“No.”
Victoria shook her head.
“She tried to run.”
“With Maya and Ethan?”
“Yes.”
Arthur remembered the years Elena disappeared from his life.
She had told him she wanted a fresh start.
“She knew the children were mine.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Because my father told her he would destroy you.”
Arthur stared at the floor.
Every unanswered question of his past was suddenly becoming clear.
Then Victoria said something that stopped him.
“Elena didn’t die in that crash.”
Arthur slowly looked up.
Victoria’s eyes were wet.
“She survived.”
Maya covered her mouth.
“Where is she?”
Victoria looked at Maya.
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying!”
“I’m not.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“What happened?”
“My father’s people reached the hospital before police did.”
Arthur’s face went cold.
“What did they do?”
“They moved her.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Arthur stared at Victoria.
“You expect me to believe that?”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
Then she reached inside her dress.
She pulled out a small memory card.
“But I know who does.”
She placed it on the table.
“Sebastian.”
Arthur stared at it.
“What’s on there?”
Victoria whispered.
“A recording I stole from my father’s office.”
Arthur picked it up.
Victoria’s next words changed everything.
“It was recorded three weeks ago.”
Arthur froze.
“Three weeks?”
Victoria nodded.
“There are two voices.”
“My father.”
“And?”
May you like
Victoria looked at Maya.
“Your mother.”
