Chapter 10: The Aunt Who Wanted My Crown
I had spent my entire life believing my family was the one place where I was safe.
The Crawfords had lied to me.
Daniel had betrayed me.
But my family?
That was supposed to be different.
Then my grandfather said one name.
“Your aunt.””
The room felt smaller.
I stared at him.
“My aunt disappeared fifteen years ago.””
Grandpa nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“She left after a fight with you.””
“Yes.””
“And you never told me why.””
His silence answered before his words did.
“Because I promised your mother.””
I felt anger rising again.
Another promise.
Another secret.
Everyone had spent my entire life making decisions about what I could handle.
“When does it stop?”” I asked.
Grandpa looked hurt.
“What?””
“When does everyone stop protecting me by hiding the truth?””
He didn’t respond.
Because he knew I was right.
Daniel stood quietly near the window.
For once, he wasn’t trying to defend himself.
He was watching me lose faith in everyone around me.
“What was her name?”” I asked.
Grandpa looked down.
“Victoria Bennett.””
The name sounded familiar.
Not because I remembered her.
Because I had heard it whispered.
At family gatherings.
In old conversations that stopped when I entered the room.
“She wanted control of Sterling Enterprises,” Grandpa said.
“Why?””
“Because she believed it belonged to her.””
I frowned.
“But Mom was your partner.””
“Yes.””
“And I’m your heir because of Mom?””
“Because of both of you.””
Grandpa opened another folder.
Inside were legal documents.
“Your grandmother created the succession plan.””
I read through the papers.
“Victoria challenged it?””
“Several times.””
“And then she left?””
Grandpa nodded.
“She said she was done fighting.””
I looked at the fake documents accusing me.
“She came back.””
“Yes.””
“Why now?””
Nobody answered.
Because we all knew.
She came back because I inherited power.
My phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I saw the words.
You deserve to know the truth about your mother.
My heart stopped.
There was an attachment.
A photograph.
I opened it.
It showed my mother standing outside a building.
Beside her was Victoria.
And behind them…
Richard Crawford.
The date was written below.
Two weeks before my mother died.
I looked up.
“Grandpa.””
He saw the picture.
And his face changed.
“Where did you get this?””
“Someone sent it.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“That’s not random.””
“No,” Grandpa said quietly.
“It’s a warning.””
A second message arrived.
This time, a location.
And one sentence.
Come alone if you want to know who really betrayed your mother.
Daniel immediately shook his head.
“Don’t go.””
I looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because this is exactly what my father would do.””
I almost smiled.
“Your father.””
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“I know.””
The guilt in his voice was real.
But guilt didn’t erase what happened.
“What would you do if you were me?””
He looked at the message.
“I’d take someone with me.””
Grandpa nodded.
“You’re not going alone.””
I wanted to argue.
But I knew better.
Two hours later, we arrived at an old office building downtown.
The place looked abandoned.
Broken windows.
Dust-covered signs.
A building that had forgotten its purpose.
“This is where Sterling kept its first offices,” Grandpa said.
I looked at him.
“You knew?””
“I recognized the address.””
We entered slowly.
The hallway smelled like old paper and rain.
At the end of the corridor was one door.
Open.
Inside was a small room.
And someone waiting.
Victoria.
She looked older than the pictures.
But I could see my mother in her face.
The same eyes.
The same expression.
She looked at me.
And started crying.
“Phoebe.””
I didn’t move.
“You sent the messages.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
She looked at Grandpa.
Then at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“Because I made a terrible mistake.””
I crossed my arms.
“You’ll need to be more specific.””
Her expression broke.
“I trusted the wrong person.””
“Richard?””
She nodded.
Grandpa stepped forward.
“You worked with him.””
Victoria looked ashamed.
“Yes.””
The room went silent.
“You helped him?””
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“I thought I could control him.””
That sentence sounded familiar.
Daniel looked away.
Victoria continued.
“Your mother found out before I did.””
“Found out what?””
“That Richard wasn’t trying to steal Sterling Enterprises.””
She looked directly at me.
“He was trying to destroy it.””
I felt a chill.
“Why?””
“Because he believed if he couldn’t own it…”
She paused.
“He would make sure nobody else could.””
I stared at her.
“Then why did you disappear?””
Victoria looked at the floor.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Richard?””
“No.””
Her eyes lifted.
“Of myself.””
Nobody spoke.
Then she said:
“I helped him create the first plan.””
My heart stopped.
“You helped him?””
“Yes.””
Grandpa stepped back.
The pain on his face was obvious.
“Victoria…”
“I thought I was taking back what was mine.””
She wiped her eyes.
“But then I realized Richard wasn’t offering me a partnership.””
“What was he offering?””
Her answer was barely a whisper.
“Revenge.””
Before I could ask another question, headlights flashed outside.
Victoria looked toward the window.
Her face changed.
“He found me.””
A car door slammed.
Then another.
Daniel moved toward the entrance.
“What did you do?””
Victoria looked at me.
“I brought you here because your mother left something behind.””
“What?””
She reached into her bag.
And pulled out a key.
“A safety deposit box.””
Grandpa stared.
“Where?””
Victoria looked terrified.
“Not where.””
She looked at me.
“When.””
The door downstairs opened.
Footsteps echoed through the building.
Victoria whispered:
“Your mother planned for this day.””
A shadow appeared in the hallway.
And then a familiar voice spoke.
“Phoebe.””
May you like
I froze.
Richard Crawford had found us.
