Chapter 13 - VICTORIA’S SECOND PLAN
Victoria requested a meeting with Elena.
The emerald gown had been replaced by a gray detention uniform.
Her diamonds were gone.
The arrogance remained, but fear had begun breaking through it.
“I will testify against Richard and Mother,” Victoria said.
“What do you want?” Elena asked.
“Protection.”
“From whom?”
“My mother.”
Victoria had discovered her own file inside the archive.
Beatrice planned to appoint her temporary guardian after Elena’s commitment.
Six months later, two doctors would declare Victoria unstable.
Beatrice would take the baby and the trust permanently.
“She used me,” Victoria whispered.
“You helped her.”
“I did not know the whole plan.”
“You knew enough to push a pregnant woman.”
Victoria looked away.
“That was personal.”
“Why?”
“You walked into our family and made Richard question everything.”
“He visited your father.”
“He talked about selling the mansion.”
“He wanted the baby to carry Vance as a middle name.”
“You treated our name like it was ordinary.”
“It is a name.”
“To us, it is history.”
“To you, it was permission.”
Victoria’s eyes filled with anger.
“You had no manners.”
“You contradicted Mother.”
“You thanked servants in front of guests.”
“You made us look cruel.”
Elena stared at her.
“You looked cruel because you were cruel.”
Victoria lowered her head.
She offered a recording.
In it, Beatrice discussed the death of her second husband, Harold Carrington.
Harold discovered the bank network and planned to cooperate with regulators.
Days later, he fell from the estate balcony.
Beatrice told Victoria that the railing had become unreliable.
Her laughter made the meaning clear.
The recording connected Beatrice to murder.
Victoria wanted immunity.
Naomi refused.
Her cooperation could reduce the sentence.
It would not erase the assault, conspiracy, or unlawful detention.
Before leaving, Victoria looked at Elena.
“I am sorry.”
“For hurting me?”
“Yes.”
“For threatening my baby?”
“Yes.”
“Or because you discovered your mother planned to use you too?”
Victoria remained silent.
Elena nodded.
“That is what I thought.”
May you like
Remorse born from fear could still become real one day.
It had not become real yet.
