Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO STOLE THE TRUTH
Victoria Sterling watched the news report with a glass of wine in her hand.
She wasn’t crying.
She wasn’t panicking.
People like Victoria never showed fear.
They controlled it.
The television showed Arthur walking beside Maya.
A father and daughter.
A picture that should never have existed.
Victoria slowly placed the glass down.
“She really found it.”
Richard stood behind her.
“I told you she would.”
Victoria turned.
“This is your fault.”
Richard smiled.
“No.”
“This is your mistake.”
Victoria’s eyes became cold.
“I protected this family.”
“You protected yourself.”
Richard walked toward the window.
“You married Arthur because you loved his power.”
Victoria’s expression hardened.
“And you benefited from it.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
Richard smiled.
“Now we make sure Maya disappears.”
Victoria looked at him.
“No.”
Richard turned.
“You’re changing your mind?”
Victoria looked at the television.
At Maya’s face.
For the first time, she looked uncertain.
“She is Arthur’s daughter.”
Richard laughed.
“That suddenly matters?”
Victoria didn’t answer.
Because something inside her had changed.
Maybe she hated Maya.
Maybe she blamed her.
But deep down…
she knew the girl had been innocent.
Meanwhile, Maya sat across from Arthur in a quiet restaurant.
No cameras.
No reporters.
Just two people trying to understand thirty years of missing time.
Arthur looked nervous.
Almost like a teenager.
Maya noticed.
“You’re uncomfortable.”
Arthur smiled slightly.
“I negotiated billion-dollar contracts easier than this.”
“This?”
“Talking to my daughter.”
The word hung between them.
Daughter.
Maya looked down.
She still wasn’t used to hearing it.
Arthur reached into his pocket.
He placed an old watch on the table.
Maya recognized it.
Her mother had a picture of it.
“My mother gave you that.”
Arthur nodded.
“She gave it to me the night I promised I would never leave.”
Maya looked at him.
“And you did.”
“Yes.”
Arthur didn’t defend himself.
“I failed both of you.”
A tear formed in Maya’s eye.
But before she could speak…
a man approached their table.
“Mr. Sterling.”
Arthur looked up.
“Who are you?”
The man placed an envelope down.
“You need to see this.”
Arthur opened it.
Inside were documents.
Bank transfers.
Payments.
Names.
Maya watched his expression change.
“What is it?”
Arthur slowly looked at her.
“This proves Victoria paid someone thirty years ago.”
Maya froze.
“For what?”
Arthur looked at the final document.
May you like
His voice became quiet.
“To make Isabella disappear.”
