Chapter 8 - VICTORIA ARRIVES
Victoria came to the apartment without warning.
The doorman called first.
I almost refused.
Then Evelyn suggested I let her come up while security remained nearby.
Victoria entered wearing cream wool and pearls.
Always pearls.
She looked around the apartment.
“This is where you brought my grandson?”
“Yes.”
“It looks temporary.”
“That is the point.”
She placed her handbag on the table.
“I came to end this.”
I nearly smiled.
“You don’t have that authority.”
“Richard is falling apart.”
“That sounds like something his therapist should address.”
“He needs his family.”
“So did Caleb.”
Her jaw tightened.
“You have turned that boy against everyone.”
I felt anger rise.
Then I remembered Aaron’s advice.
Do not let the loudest person determine the emotional temperature.
I sat down.
“What do you want?”
Victoria remained standing.
“Withdraw the liquidation.”
“No.”
“Unfreeze the company accounts.”
“No.”
“Restore Brooke’s residency.”
“No.”
She laughed.
“You think you’re powerful now.”
“I think the documents are clear.”
“You were never interested in business.”
“You keep confusing lack of interest with lack of ownership.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“Your father bought your position.”
“Yes.”
I said.
“He did.”
That surprised her.
I continued.
“He gave me an advantage.”
“I’m not ashamed of that.”
“But he also wrote rules.”
“And you, Richard, and Brooke spent years pretending they didn’t exist.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
“Caleb will hate you when he realizes you destroyed his father.”
“No.”
“I’m trying very hard not to destroy his father.”
I looked toward her.
“Richard is doing enough of that himself.”
Victoria lowered her voice.
“You have no idea what Richard has sacrificed for that child.”
My expression changed.
“What?”
“After the accident.”
She said.
“He paid people.”
I stood.
“What people?”
Victoria realized she had made a mistake.
“Nothing.”
“What people?”
She picked up her handbag.
“I’m leaving.”
I blocked neither her path nor the door.
But I followed.
“Victoria.”
She stopped.
“Who did Richard pay after the accident?”
Her face went blank.
Then she said something I did not expect.
“Ask the school.”
The elevator doors closed.
I immediately called Caleb’s school.
The principal hesitated when I mentioned Richard.
Then he asked whether we could meet privately.
That afternoon, I sat across from him.
He placed a sealed envelope on the desk.
“Your husband asked us not to give you this.”
My blood went cold.
“What is it?”
May you like
The principal slid it toward me.
“A witness statement from the bus crash.”
