CHAPTER 5: THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Arthur stood frozen at the top of the stairs.
Elena’s words echoed through the mansion.
“Ask Maria who she really is.”
For the first time since this nightmare began, Arthur felt something stronger than anger.
Doubt.
He looked at Maria.
The woman who had protected Benjamin.
The woman who had brought him the documents.
The woman who had claimed she was only trying to do the right thing.
But now…
There was a question he couldn’t ignore.
Who was Maria really?
Elena grabbed her suitcase and walked toward the front door.
Arthur quickly stepped in front of her.
“You’re not leaving.”
Elena stopped.
“You don’t get to order me around anymore.”
Arthur’s eyes hardened.
“Not until I get answers.”
She laughed quietly.
“Answers?”
She looked at Maria.
“You should ask her first.”
Maria’s face turned pale.
Arthur noticed.
And that reaction told him something.
Maria was hiding something.
“Maria.”
She slowly looked at him.
“Yes, Mr. Vance?”
“How long have you known my family?”
Maria hesitated.
“Eight years.”
Arthur frowned.
“Eight years?”
“Yes.”
“Exactly how long have you worked for me?”
“Eight years.”
Arthur looked between Maria and Elena.
Something didn’t make sense.
“You were hired right after Benjamin was born.”
Maria nodded.
“Yes.”
Elena crossed her arms.
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
Arthur turned toward her.
“What are you implying?”
Elena smiled.
“I’m saying maybe Maria didn’t appear in our lives by accident.”
Maria looked hurt.
“That’s not true.”
“Then explain it.”
Elena stepped closer.
“Tell him.”
Maria said nothing.
Arthur’s patience disappeared.
“Tell me what?”
The silence became unbearable.
Finally, Maria took a deep breath.
“There is something I never told you.”
Arthur stared at her.
“What?”
Maria looked down.
“My real name isn’t Maria Collins.”
Arthur felt his chest tighten.
“What?”
She swallowed.
“My name is Maria Bennett.”
The name meant nothing to Arthur.
But it meant everything to Elena.
Because the moment Elena heard it, her expression changed.
“You knew.”
Arthur turned toward his wife.
“You know her?”
Elena’s face became defensive.
“No.”
But the answer came too quickly.
Arthur noticed.
“You’re lying.”
Elena stepped back.
“Arthur, don’t listen to her.”
Maria looked directly at Arthur.
“I was married to someone who worked for your family years ago.”
Arthur frowned.
“Who?”
Maria’s eyes filled with emotion.
“Thomas Bennett.”
Arthur froze.
The name hit him like a sudden wave.
Thomas Bennett.
His former financial advisor.
The man who disappeared after being accused of stealing company money.
The man everyone believed had betrayed Arthur.
“No…”
Maria nodded.
“Yes.”
Arthur’s voice became quiet.
“Thomas was your husband?”
“Yes.”
The room fell silent.
Elena looked furious.
“She’s doing exactly what I warned you about.”
Arthur ignored her.
“What does this have to do with Benjamin?”
Maria took a shaky breath.
“Everything.”
Arthur’s heart started racing.
“Explain.”
Maria looked at the stairs where Benjamin’s room was.
“Your son’s trust fund wasn’t the only thing Thomas discovered.”
Arthur stared at her.
“What else?”
Maria reached into her purse.
She pulled out a small, worn notebook.
“I found this among his belongings after he died.”
Arthur looked confused.
“Thomas died?”
Maria nodded.
“Shortly after he disappeared.”
She opened the notebook.
Inside were handwritten notes.
Dates.
Names.
Financial records.
And one name appeared again and again.
Elena Vance.
Arthur’s face hardened.
“What did Thomas know?”
Maria looked at him.
“He discovered Elena had been moving money before Benjamin’s trust fund was created.”
Arthur frowned.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
Maria shook her head.
“The trust fund was created because Thomas warned you about something.”
Arthur remembered.
Eight years ago.
The sudden change.
The emergency meeting.
The decision to protect Benjamin’s future.
At the time, Elena had acted supportive.
But now…
The memories looked different.
“What did he warn me about?”
Maria’s voice became softer.
“He believed someone close to you was trying to gain control of your entire fortune.”
Arthur looked at Elena.
She immediately became angry.
“You’re blaming me because a dead man wrote some notes?”
Maria looked at her.
“No.”
She closed the notebook.
“I’m blaming you because Thomas recorded the conversation.”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“What conversation?”
Maria reached into her bag again.
This time, she pulled out a small digital recorder.
Elena’s face changed.
“No.”
Arthur noticed.
“You know what’s on that?”
Elena didn’t answer.
Maria pressed the button.
A voice filled the room.
Elena’s voice.
Eight years younger.
And saying something Arthur never expected to hear.
“Once Arthur signs the documents, everything will belong to us.”
Arthur stopped breathing.
Because the voice was unmistakable.
It was his wife.
The woman he trusted.
The woman who had raised his son.
Elena immediately rushed forward.
“Turn that off!”
But Arthur stepped back.
His eyes were filled with betrayal.
“Who were you talking about, Elena?”
She said nothing.
Arthur’s voice dropped.
“Who is ‘us’?”
Elena looked at him.
And for the first time…
She looked terrified.
Because the secret she had protected for eight years was finally coming out.
But before anyone could say another word…
Benjamin screamed from upstairs.
“Dad!”
Everyone froze.
Arthur ran toward the stairs.
“Benjamin!”
The boy stood at the bedroom doorway, shaking.
Holding a piece of paper.
“Dad…”
His voice trembled.
“I found this in Mom’s room.”
Arthur took the paper.
And the moment he read the first sentence…
His entire world collapsed.
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TO BE CONTINUED…
