Chapter 9 - The Woman Who Called Me Nothing
Eleanor recovered faster than Victor.
She always had stronger instincts.
“Those are my jewels.”
“I know.”
“You stole them.”
The investigator looked at her.
“You may want counsel before making additional statements.”
Eleanor ignored him.
She pointed at me.
“I knew there was something wrong with you.”
For the first time in years, I laughed in front of her.
Not cruelly.
Genuinely.
“You spent seven years telling everyone there was nothing special about me.”
Her face tightened.
“Now you’re claiming you always knew?”
“You deceived my family.”
“Your family?”
I took one step closer.
“You mean the family that planned to fabricate financial records and accuse me of theft?”
Her confidence cracked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Russell raised Kendra’s phone.
“We do.”
Eleanor stopped.
“Kendra gave you that?”
“Yes.”
“That little parasite.”
The words came out before she could stop them.
I watched her realize what she had revealed.
Kendra had been useful when she thought Kendra would replace me.
Now Kendra was disposable too.
That was Eleanor’s entire worldview.
People were valuable only while they served her.
She looked toward me again.
“I suppose you think you’ve won.”
“This was never a competition.”
“Oh, please.”
Her voice sharpened.
“You married my son under a false identity.”
“I used my mother’s surname.”
“You allowed us to believe you were poor.”
“I never told you I was poor.”
Eleanor opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
That detail mattered.
I had worn inexpensive clothes.
Used public transportation.
Cooked my own meals.
Avoided discussing family money.
But I had never claimed poverty.
They had built that story themselves.
Because it pleased them.
Eleanor lowered her voice.
“Victor loved you.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“Victor loved believing I needed him.”
For the first time, she had no answer.
Then her phone rang.
Victor.
She looked at the screen.
Russell said nothing.
I said nothing.
Eleanor answered.
“Victor.”
His voice was loud enough for us to hear.
“Mom, they took everything.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Where are you?”
“At the club.”
A pause.
“They canceled my membership.”
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
Victor continued.
“I need you to call Dennis.”
Eleanor glanced toward us.
Russell’s eyes sharpened.
“Victor, stop talking.”
“Why?”
“Because—”
Russell held up the recorder.
Eleanor saw it.
Her shoulders dropped.
Victor’s voice came through again.
“Mom?”
Eleanor stared at me.
For years, she had treated me like an idiot standing outside important conversations.
May you like
Now she finally understood.
I had been listening the entire time.
