CHAPTER 3 — The Truth Victoria Buried
Arthur stared at Emma.
The room became silent.
“What does she mean?”
Emma looked down.
Her hands were shaking.
Victoria crossed her arms.
“Tell him.”
Arthur’s eyes moved between them.
“Emma?”
The former nanny swallowed.
“I was scared.”
“Scared of what?”
She looked at Victoria.
“Her.”
Victoria smiled.
A cold, satisfied smile.
“You see, Arthur? Everyone has secrets.”
Arthur’s voice became harder.
“Explain.”
Emma took a deep breath.
“Six months ago, I saw Victoria arguing with someone on the phone.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did she say?”
Emma hesitated.
Then whispered:
“She said Lily was becoming harder to control.”
Arthur’s face changed.
“And you stayed?”
Emma looked ashamed.
“I needed the job.”
The honesty hurt more than the betrayal.
Arthur stepped back.
“You knew my daughter was in danger.”
“I tried to protect her.”
“By staying silent?”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears.
“I was planning to leave with Lily.”
Arthur froze.
“What?”
Emma reached into her bag again.
She pulled out another object.
A small hidden camera.
“I installed this after I noticed Victoria changing.”
Arthur stared.
“You recorded her?”
Emma nodded.
“I knew nobody would believe me.”
She handed him the device.
Arthur watched the footage.
At first…
Nothing.
Then Victoria appeared.
Talking on the phone.
Her voice was clear.
“She trusts me completely.”
A pause.
Then:
“Arthur will sign eventually.”
Arthur felt sick.
Victoria continued:
“Once I become Lily’s legal guardian, the money transfers automatically.”
The video ended.
Arthur slowly looked up.
Victoria was silent.
No excuses.
No tears.
Because she knew there was no point anymore.
“You used my daughter.”
Victoria tilted her head.
“No.”
Her voice was calm.
“I used your weakness.”
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“You were lonely.”
She stepped closer.
“You wanted someone to save you.”
A cruel smile appeared.
“And I did.”
Arthur stared at her.
“You manipulated me.”
“Yes.”
The honesty shocked him.
Victoria didn’t even deny it.
“I studied you, Arthur.”
She walked around the room.
“I knew exactly what you needed.”
“A woman who understood your pain.”
“A woman who loved your daughter.”
“A woman who made you believe your family was healing.”
She stopped.
“But you never noticed…”
Her eyes moved toward Lily’s bedroom.
“You were so desperate to have your old life back that you never looked closely.”
Arthur’s hands clenched.
“You’re sick.”
Victoria smiled.
“No.”
She whispered.
“I’m realistic.”
Then she picked up her purse.
“You can expose me.”
She walked toward the door.
“But remember something…”
She turned.
“People like you don’t survive scandals.”
Arthur frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Victoria smiled.
“Ask yourself why your wife’s death investigation was closed so quickly.”
Arthur froze.
The room went silent.
“My wife died in an accident.”
Victoria opened the door.
“Did she?”
Then she left.
That night…
Arthur reopened the old case file.
For the first time in two years.
And inside the documents…
He found something strange.
A name.
A witness who disappeared.
A report that had been changed.
And one signature approving the closure.
The signature belonged to…
Victoria Vance.
Cliffhanger:
Arthur stared at the screen.
May you like
The woman who tried to steal his daughter’s inheritance…
Might have been connected to the death of Lily’s mother.
