Chapter 10
Claire did not move toward her.
Neither did Noah.
Victoria stood in the lobby clutching her purse with both hands.
I had never seen fear look so awkward on someone who normally carried herself like a queen.
Claire spoke first.
“Why should I believe you?”
Victoria flinched.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“I know.”
Noah crossed his arms.
“Did Charles send you?”
“No.”
“Are you recording us?”
Victoria shook her head quickly.
I stepped between them slightly.
“Empty your purse.”
She looked offended.
Then she seemed to remember she had come asking for help.
She handed it over.
Phone.
Wallet.
Keys.
Cosmetics.
Nothing unusual.
Rachel took the phone and placed it inside a signal-blocking pouch from Robert’s security team.
Victoria stared at her.
“What is that?”
“Something we started using after your husband broke into Claire’s apartment.”
“I didn’t know he did that.”
Claire’s voice sharpened.
“You knew he was threatening me.”
“Yes.”
“You knew he wanted my trust.”
“Yes.”
“You helped him.”
Victoria looked at the floor.
“Yes.”
That single word filled the lobby.
No excuse.
No denial.
Claire’s eyes filled.
“Why?”
Victoria pressed her lips together.
“I thought I could control him.”
Noah laughed bitterly.
“You can’t even control yourself.”
She closed her eyes.
“I know.”
I led everyone into the conference room.
Victoria refused water.
She sat across from her children.
I stayed beside Claire.
Rachel and our attorney remained in the room.
“If you want protection,” our attorney said, “you need to tell the truth.”
Victoria nodded.
“All of it?”
“All of it.”
She looked at Claire.
“I met Charles while your father was alive.”
Claire’s hand tightened around mine.
“How long?”
“Almost three years before Daniel died.”
“Were you sleeping with him?”
Victoria started crying.
“Yes.”
Claire looked away.
Noah stared at the table.
Victoria continued.
“Your father discovered the affair.”
“When?”
“A year before he died.”
“Why didn’t he leave you?”
“He planned to.”
Claire’s face crumpled.
Victoria reached toward her.
Claire pulled back.
Victoria dropped her hand.
“He changed the trust first.”
That explained the note.
No investments connected to Charles.
“He knew Charles was interested in the money?”
“Yes.”
“Was that why Charles was with you?”
Victoria’s voice cracked.
“I told myself no.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“I don’t know.”
Claire laughed through tears.
“You still can’t say it.”
Victoria covered her face.
“Charles was charming. He made me feel important.”
I watched Claire.
Every answer hurt her.
Victoria looked at me.
“You probably think I’m pathetic.”
“No.”
She seemed surprised.
“I think you’re responsible for what you did.”
That hurt her more.
Good.
I continued.
“Being manipulated by Charles may explain some things. It doesn’t erase slapping me. It doesn’t erase stealing from Claire.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She nodded.
Then our attorney asked, “What happened after Daniel died?”
Victoria swallowed.
“Charles told me Daniel had hidden money from me.”
“Was that true?”
“No.”
“He convinced you?”
“I wanted to believe him.”
She described how Charles gradually took over the family finances.
He helped petition to become trustee.
He pushed investments through companies he controlled.
At first, Victoria claimed she questioned him.
Then the money started growing.
Or appeared to.
Expensive homes.
Vacations.
Private clubs.
Status.
She stopped asking.
Claire whispered, “Because you liked the life.”
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.”
I respected the truth even while hating it.
Noah asked, “What about my trust?”
Victoria started crying again.
“You have one.”
“How much?”
“Originally twelve million.”
“Originally?”
She closed her eyes.
“There’s approximately four left.”
Noah stood.
“You let him take eight million dollars?”
“It wasn’t all stolen.”
“What do you call it?”
“Bad investments.”
“In his companies?”
“Yes.”
Noah kicked his chair backward.
Claire grabbed his hand.
He looked like he might break something.
Instead he cried.
“I thought Dad left me nothing.”
Victoria covered her mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
“You told me Claire abandoned us because she was rich.”
“I was angry.”
“You made me hate my sister.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
His voice cracked.
“You don’t know what it felt like.”
Victoria could not answer.
Our attorney leaned forward.
“What changed now?”
Victoria looked toward the covered phone.
“Last night Charles realized Noah took the flash drive.”
Noah’s face tightened.
“What did he do?”
“He told me everything was falling apart because of my children.”
Claire whispered, “Your children.”
Victoria nodded.
“He ordered me to call Claire and convince her to sign the competency documents.”
“And?”
“I refused.”
Claire stared at her.
Victoria continued.
“He laughed.”
Her fingers trembled.
“He said I had already forged enough of Claire’s signatures that one more wouldn’t matter.”
The room went completely silent.
Claire’s lips parted.
“You forged them?”
Victoria nodded.
“How many?”
“I don’t know.”
“HOW MANY?”
I grabbed Claire’s hand.
Victoria sobbed.
“At least six.”
Claire stood.
She paced to the window.
I stayed where I was.
This had to belong to her.
Our attorney asked, “Did Charles threaten you?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Yes.”
“How?”
“He said if I turned against him, he would make sure I went to prison alone.”
“That’s not physical danger.”
Victoria looked at her.
“No.”
Then she whispered, “He also said accidents happen to people who panic.”
Nobody moved.
Rachel called Robert’s security team.
Our attorney called law enforcement.
Victoria looked at Claire.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“I just needed to tell you before he stopped me.”
Claire turned.
“Why now?”
Victoria looked at Noah.
Then at Claire.
“Because last night, for the first time, I heard Charles talk about both of you the way I talked about James.”
I felt the words hit the room.
“Like you were beneath him.”
She looked at me.
“I heard myself.”
Tears ran down her face.
“And I finally understood what I had become.”
Claire did not hug her.
She did not forgive her.
She simply said, “Then prove you understand.”
Victoria nodded.
“How?”
Claire looked at our attorney.
“Testify tomorrow.”
Victoria went pale.
Claire held her gaze.
“Tell the judge everything you just told us.”
Victoria whispered, “Charles will destroy me.”
Claire’s answer was quiet.
“Maybe.”
May you like
Then she squeezed my hand.
“But for once, choose your children anyway.”
