Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW THE TRUTH
The Sterling mansion had never felt so cold.
Victoria stood in front of the giant windows overlooking the city.
Below her, reporters surrounded the gates.
Her perfect world was breaking.
Her husband was searching for another woman.
Her family name was being questioned.
And the girl she thought would disappear…
was still standing.
A voice came from behind.
“You should have handled this quietly.”
Victoria turned.
Her brother, Richard Hale, stood near the doorway.
A dangerous smile crossed his face.
“You told me she was harmless.”
Victoria’s eyes narrowed.
“She was supposed to be.”
Richard walked closer.
“You underestimated her.”
“No.”
Victoria’s voice became cold.
“I underestimated Arthur.”
Richard smiled.
“Your husband is emotional.”
“He found a daughter and suddenly thinks he can rewrite history.”
Victoria looked outside.
“He always had a weakness.”
“What weakness?”
She turned.
“Guilt.”
Richard laughed.
“Then use it.”
Victoria said nothing.
Richard placed a file on the table.
“You still have the original letters?”
Victoria looked at the folder.
Her face changed.
“You kept them?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
Richard smiled.
“Because secrets are valuable.”
Victoria opened the folder.
Inside were copies of Isabella’s letters.
Every letter she had written to Arthur.
Every attempt to contact him.
Every desperate message from a mother trying to tell a father about his child.
Victoria’s hands tightened.
“You promised nobody would see these.”
Richard shrugged.
“Promises are for people who trust each other.”
Victoria stared at him.
“You’re threatening me?”
“I’m reminding you.”
Richard leaned closer.
“We both know the truth.”
“And if Arthur discovers everything…”
His smile disappeared.
“We both lose.”
Meanwhile, across the city…
Maya visited her mother’s old house.
The small apartment where she had grown up.
The place that still smelled like old books and lavender.
She opened drawers.
Looked through boxes.
Searching for anything that could prove her mother’s story.
After hours, she found something hidden behind a loose wooden panel.
An envelope.
Her name was written on it.
Maya.
Her hands trembled.
She opened it.
Inside was a letter.
My beautiful daughter,
If you are reading this, it means you finally found your father.
I need you to know something.
Your father was not a cruel man.
He was a scared man.
But fear does not erase the pain he caused.
I hope one day you can forgive him.
But first…
you need to know the truth about what happened the night he left us.
Maya stopped breathing.
She continued reading.
That night, Arthur did not leave because he stopped loving me.
Someone forced him to choose.
Someone threatened him.
Someone threatened you.
Maya’s heart raced.
She looked at the next line.
May you like
And the name written there made her drop the letter.
Victoria Sterling.
