Chapter 11: Maria’s Secret

Chapter 11: Maria’s Secret

After Ethan’s testimony, Victoria’s defense began collapsing.

But Maria had another secret.

She had worked for our family for sixteen years.

She had helped raise Lily after Elena’s death.

Yet during the abuse, she had remained quiet.

Outside the courtroom, I confronted her.

“Why didn’t you call me?”

Tears filled her eyes.

“Because Mrs. Hale threatened my son.”

Maria’s son, Gabriel, was studying abroad.

Victoria had discovered that his visa paperwork contained an error. She threatened to report him, have him deported, and ruin his future.

“She said if I spoke, Gabriel would disappear,” Maria whispered.

“You should have told me.”

“I was ashamed.”

“You watched Lily suffer.”

“I know.”

Her voice broke.

“I will regret that until I die.”

Lily stood behind us.

Maria turned toward her.

“I am sorry.”

Lily’s expression was unreadable.

“You brought me food at night.”

“Not enough.”

“You cleaned my knees.”

“I should have called the police.”

“Yes.”

Maria flinched.

Then Lily stepped closer.

“But you’re telling the truth now.”

Maria began crying.

Lily did not forgive her immediately.

But she allowed Maria to sit beside her during the rest of the trial.

That mattered.

On the sixth day, prosecutors played Daniel’s recordings.

The jury heard Victoria laugh about replacing Elena.

They heard her discussing Lily’s trust.

They heard her say, “Once the girl is locked away, Robert will belong to us.”

Victoria stared straight ahead.

Daniel refused to testify until prosecutors offered to remove the death penalty from consideration in Elena’s murder case.

Then he turned on Victoria.

“She knew everything,” he said.

Victoria stood and shouted, “You planned it!”

The judge ordered her to sit.

Daniel smiled.

“You enjoyed it.”

For the first time, Victoria lost control.

“You said Robert would be mine!”

“And he never was.”

She lunged toward Daniel.

Court officers restrained her.

The jury watched every second.

But before closing arguments, Daniel made one final revelation.

He claimed Elena had left behind a second will.

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