Chapter 11 - MARGARET’S CONFESSION

Margaret was waiting when Victor returned.

He placed Amelia’s letter on the table.

“Who was in the second car?”

Margaret closed her eyes.

Victor’s voice rose.

“Who?”

“I was.”

The room went silent.

Lily stood near Ethan’s bedroom.

Victor looked at his mother.

“You watched her die?”

“No.”

Margaret began crying.

It was the first time Victor could remember seeing her cry.

“I followed Daniel.”

“Amelia called me that night.”

“She said she had proof.”

“She was terrified.”

“I told her to meet me.”

Victor could barely breathe.

“Then what happened?”

“Daniel followed her.”

“I followed Daniel.”

“Her brakes failed.”

“The car went through the barrier.”

Margaret’s voice broke.

“I stopped.”

“I ran down the hill.”

“She was still alive.”

Victor stared at her.

“What?”

“For maybe five minutes.”

Margaret covered her mouth.

“She gave me the gold key.”

“She told me to protect Ethan.”

“She told me where the ledger was.”

Victor stepped backward.

“You knew.”

“Yes.”

“You knew for two years.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because Daniel threatened you.”

“He showed me photographs of you.”

“Your office.”

“Your car.”

“Then after Ethan was born, he showed me pictures of the nursery.”

Victor looked away.

Margaret continued.

“I thought silence would protect you.”

“It didn’t.”

“No.”

Her answer was barely audible.

“It protected Daniel.”

Victor finally looked at her.

“You let me believe Amelia died alone.”

“I know.”

“You let me bury her believing it was an accident.”

“I know.”

“You let me trust the man who killed my wife.”

Margaret lowered her head.

“I know.”

Victor walked out.

Lily found him later on the back terrace.

“You don’t have to forgive her.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

“Then don’t decide tonight.”

Victor looked toward Ethan’s window.

“I failed Amelia.”

Lily shook her head.

“You trusted the wrong person.”

“That mistake cost her life.”

“Yes.”

Lily didn’t soften it.

Victor appreciated that.

“But what you do after learning the truth matters too.”

Victor looked at her.

“What would Amelia do?”

Lily smiled sadly.

“She’d burn the whole rotten system down.”

For the first time that night, Victor almost smiled.

“Sounds like her.”

“It was.”

He looked toward the mansion.

May you like

THE MAID’S DAUGHTER

“GET OUT OF MY HOUSE,” HIS FIANCÉE TOLD THE MAID—THEN THE MAFIA BOSS LOOKED AT HER LITTLE GIRL“Get out of my house. And take that...

**MY HUSBAND CALLED ME A “BARREN LEECH”—HE DIDN’T KNOW MY MONEY WAS KEEP...

My husband threw his wedding ring at my feet and told security to remove the “barren leech” from the ballroom.He had no idea he wa...

MY DAUGHTER’S NOTE STOPPED MY WEDDING—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE

MY DAUGHTER SLIPPED ME A NOTE BEFORE “I DO”—AND EXPOSED MY BRIDE’S PLANPART 1 — TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE VOWS“Daddy, if you marry he...

Then his expression changed.

“Then that’s what I’ll do.”