Chapter 2: The Secret Victoria Buried
Andrew locked every door in the mansion.
Not because he feared Emily.
Because he feared the truth.
The next morning, he called the only person he trusted.
Detective Michael Hayes.
The man who investigated the fire three years ago.
When Michael arrived, Andrew placed a folder on the table.
“I want everything reopened.”
Michael looked confused.
“Andrew, that case was closed.”
“I know.”
Andrew looked toward the staircase where his sons were sleeping.
“My wife is alive.”
The detective froze.
After hours of investigation, they discovered something impossible.
The fire report had been altered.
The security footage from the night of the fire had been deleted.
The hospital records had been changed.
Someone had spent millions making sure Emily Whitmore disappeared.
And the evidence pointed to one person.
Victoria Hale.
Andrew confronted her in the library.
“You knew.”
Victoria said nothing.
“You knew my wife survived.”
Her silence was enough.
Andrew’s face hardened.
“Why?”
Victoria finally broke.
“Because everything was supposed to be mine.”
Andrew stared at her.
“What?”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You had everything. The company. The mansion. The perfect family.”
“I loved my wife.”
“And she had no idea how lucky she was.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“I spent years beside you. Helping you. Waiting for the day you would finally see me.”
Andrew looked disgusted.
“So you killed her?”
Victoria shook her head.
“I didn't start the fire.”
The room went silent.
Andrew narrowed his eyes.
“Then who did?”
Victoria hesitated.
And that hesitation terrified him.
“There was someone else.”
“Who?”
Before Victoria could answer, the lights went out.
A loud crash came from upstairs.
Andrew ran.
He reached the boys' room and found Emily standing there, holding them protectively.
A masked figure had broken through the window.
The attacker escaped before police arrived.
But on the floor, Andrew found something.
A small envelope.
Inside was an old photograph.
It showed Emily before the fire.
Standing beside another man.
A man Andrew recognized.
His own business partner.
Charles Whitmore.
His uncle.
The man who had taken control of the company after Emily’s death.
Andrew stared at the photograph.
The truth was darker than he imagined.
The fire wasn't about love.
May you like
It was about money.
And Emily wasn't the only person someone wanted gone.
