Chapter 9 - The Mother's Confession
Margaret Vale had spent thirty-six years protecting her children.
That was how she described it.
I called it enabling monsters.
She did not argue.
“Victoria was different from the beginning,” Margaret said.
“Different how?”
“She never feared consequences.”
At seventeen, Victoria discovered documents related to Sebastian's illegal adoption network.
Instead of exposing him, she studied it.
By twenty-five, she controlled parts of it.
By thirty, she controlled almost everything.
Sebastian became a figurehead.
“He wanted out,” Margaret said.
I laughed bitterly.
“The great Sebastian Vale suddenly developed a conscience?”
“No.”
Margaret looked ashamed.
“He became afraid.”
Victoria had recordings that could imprison him for the rest of his life.
She had records implicating Alexander and Nathaniel.
She had evidence against dozens of powerful families.
No one could move against her without destroying themselves.
Then Claire found the accounting discrepancies.
Victoria tried bribing her.
Claire refused.
Victoria threatened her.
Claire kept digging.
Three days later, Claire's brakes failed on the West Side Highway.
I felt the church tilt around me.
“You knew.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“I knew afterward.”
“And you stayed silent.”
“Yes.”
I wanted to scream at her.
Instead, my voice became frighteningly calm.
“Why tell me now?”
“Because Victoria is going to kill Sebastian.”
I stared at her.
“Why?”
“To make him the final villain.”
Everything became clear.
Lucy behind the portrait.
The gala.
The public discovery.
Victoria had staged the beginning.
She wanted her father exposed.
Then she would give authorities controlled evidence.
Enough to make herself look heroic.
Enough to bury Sebastian.
Not enough to reveal her own role.
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“Where?”
Margaret hesitated.
Then she whispered.
“Vale Island.”
The family owned a private estate off the coast of Maine.
Sebastian had been released temporarily after questioning because prosecutors had not yet charged him.
His security team claimed he was staying in Manhattan.
Margaret said that was false.
Victoria had moved him to the island.
And Nathaniel was there too.
Alive.
I called Marcus.
He listened without interrupting.
Then he swore.
“Stay where you are.”
Margaret shook her head.
“Police won't reach the island in time.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I heard Victoria order the helicopter.”
She stood.
Then she handed me a small silver key.
“Your sister hid the last evidence there.”
“Where?”
Margaret looked directly at me.
“In the room where Victoria believes no one would ever dare search.”
I understood before she finished.
“Her childhood bedroom.”
May you like
Margaret nodded.
Then the church doors slammed shut behind us.
