Chapter 13 - VICTORIA'S LAST SECRET
Victoria sat in the interrogation room.
Her crimson gown was stained with dust.
She looked exhausted.
Daniel entered.
“Did you kill Marcus?”
Victoria looked up.
“No.”
“Then why were you at the scene?”
“I was trying to stop him.”
“From doing what?”
Victoria hesitated.
“He was going after Amelia.”
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because she had the documents.”
Victoria leaned forward.
“Daniel, you need to understand something.”
“What?”
“I hated Amelia.”
“I know.”
“I wanted you.”
“I know.”
“I did terrible things.”
Daniel stared at her.
“But I didn't kill anyone.”
She reached into her pocket.
The police officer took the object from her.
A small flash drive.
“What's this?”
“Everything.”
Daniel looked at it.
“Everything?”
“Marcus kept records.”
“Where?”
“On that drive.”
Daniel took it.
“Why give it to me?”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I finally realized I was being used.”
Daniel stood.
“By Richard?”
Victoria shook her head.
“By someone worse.”
“Who?”
She whispered:
“Your mother.”
Daniel froze.
“My mother is dead.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
Victoria shook her head.
“Not your biological mother.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
“Your father's second wife.”
Daniel remembered.
His father had married again after Elena died.
Her name was Eleanor.
She had disappeared years earlier.
Everyone believed she had moved abroad.
Victoria whispered:
“She never left.”
Daniel's face went pale.
“Where is she?”
Victoria looked toward the door.
“She's closer than you think.”
Daniel returned to the hospital.
Amelia was asleep.
A nurse stood beside her.
Daniel entered quietly.
Then he noticed something strange.
The nurse turned.
Her face was unfamiliar.
Daniel immediately reached for his phone.
The woman smiled.
“You finally figured it out.”
Daniel froze.
She removed her mask.
Eleanor Carter.
His father's second wife.
The woman everyone believed had disappeared.
She looked at Amelia.
May you like
Then at Daniel.
“You've become exactly like your father.”
