Chapter 6: The Secret Partner
I spent the next hour staring at the payment records.
Three thousand dollars.
Every month.
The same amount I had trusted my mother with.
Except she wasn’t helping my family.
She was sending my money to someone else.
Daniel watched me carefully.
“Connor, before we assume anything, we need more information.””
I nodded.
But deep down, I already knew.
My mother had not just betrayed my trust.
She had built an entire system around it.
“Who is Victoria Lane?”” I asked.
Daniel searched through the records.
“Former business partner of your mother.””
“Former?””
“That’s what the records say.””
I leaned forward.
“But they’re still connected.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Daniel tapped the file.
“That’s what we need to find out.””
When I returned home, Amy was waiting.
She could tell something was wrong.
“Is it worse?””
I sat down beside her.
“Yes.””
She looked away.
“I’m sorry.””
The words surprised me.
“Why are you apologizing?””
“Because this started after I came into your life.””
I turned toward her.
“Amy.””
She looked at me.
“Your family hates me.””
“No.””
“But they do.””
I held her hand.
“My family made choices.””
She swallowed.
“And I ignored them.””
That hurt because it was true.
For months, I had defended my mother.
Every warning.
Every uncomfortable moment.
Every time Amy looked hurt.
I had explained it away.
I had chosen the easier truth.
That my mother was just difficult.
Not dangerous.
My phone rang.
Mason.
I answered.
“Tell me you found something.””
His voice was nervous.
“I did.””
“What?””
“I found Victoria.””
“Where?””
“At your mother’s office.””
I stood.
“What?””
“She’s there right now.””
My stomach dropped.
“What is she doing?””
“I don’t know.””
A pause.
Then:
“But Connor, you need to come here.””
“Why?””
“Because I found the original documents.””
My heart started pounding.
“What documents?””
“The ones your mother used.””
I grabbed my keys.
When I arrived at my mother’s office, Mason was waiting outside.
He looked exhausted.
“You shouldn’t be here.””
“Where is she?””
“Inside.””
I opened the door.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Then I heard voices.
My mother.
And another woman.
“You promised me the house would be transferred by Friday.””
I froze.
Victoria.
My mother answered.
“It will be.””
“You said that last month.””
“I’m handling it.””
“You better.””
I stepped inside.
Both women turned.
My mother’s face went pale.
“Connor.””
Victoria looked at me.
She was elegant.
Calm.
The kind of person who never looked surprised.
My mother stepped forward.
“This isn’t what it looks like.””
I laughed.
“Really?””
Victoria picked up a folder from the desk.
“This conversation is private.””
I looked at her.
“You’ve been taking my money.””
She smiled slightly.
“Your mother was making an investment.””
“With my money.””
“With family money.””
I stared at her.
“No.””
My voice became firm.
“You keep saying that word.””
“What word?””
“Family.””
I pointed around the room.
“You use it every time you want something that belongs to someone else.””
My mother’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re being disrespectful.””
“No.””
I looked at both women.
“I’m being awake.””
Victoria placed the folder down.
“You should be careful, Connor.””
I stepped closer.
“Is that a threat?””
“No.””
She smiled.
“It’s advice.””
Then she opened the folder.
Inside was another document.
A document with my name.
My address.
And my signature.
Except this time, there was something different.
The date.
It was dated two years earlier.
Before I had ever met Victoria.
Before the company existed.
Before any of this started.
I looked at my mother.
“Where did you get this?””
She didn’t answer.
Victoria did.
“Your father signed it.””
I froze.
“My father?””
She nodded.
“And according to this agreement, your mother has always had control over the property.””
I grabbed the paper.
But before I could read the full page, Mason shouted from behind me.
“Connor!””
I turned.
He was holding another file.
His face was completely pale.
“I found your father’s real documents.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He swallowed.
“The agreement your mother showed you…”
He held up the file.
“It’s fake.””
I stared at the paper in my hand.
Then back at Mason.
“How do you know?””
He looked toward my mother.
“Because I found the original.””
A silence filled the room.
Then Mason whispered:
“And Connor…”
I stepped closer.
“What?””
He opened the file.
“The original document says your father left the house to someone else.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
Mason looked at the page.
May you like
Then at me.
“The person your mother has been trying to hide from you for years.””
