Chapter 6: The Truth Victoria Wanted Buried
I didn’t take the folder.
Not immediately.
I had learned one thing about Victoria.
She always wanted to control the moment.
The timing.
The information.
The reaction.
She didn’t reveal things because they were true.
She revealed them when they benefited her.
“Put it on the table,” I said.
Victoria frowned.
“What?””
“The folder.””
She slowly placed it down.
I didn’t touch it.
“What is inside?””
“Documents.””
“About Anna?””
“Yes.””
I looked at her.
“And you had them this entire time?””
Her silence answered for her.
My anger rose.
“You were going to marry me while hiding information about my wife?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“No. You were trying to protect yourself.””
Victoria’s expression hardened.
“You have no idea what Anna was like at the end.””
I stepped back.
“Be careful.””
“She was scared.””
“Of what?””
Victoria looked at the folder.
“Of losing control.””
I laughed bitterly.
“My wife was dying.””
“And she was also making decisions that affected everyone around her.””
I stared at her.
“You don’t get to rewrite her story.””
Victoria opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
For a moment, she looked almost frustrated.
Like she was angry that I still defended someone who wasn’t there.
“She never told you everything.””
“Neither did you.””
That silence was louder than words.
I finally opened the folder.
The first page was a bank statement.
The second was a legal document.
The third was a photograph.
I recognized the location.
Anna’s old office.
But something was wrong.
The photograph showed Victoria inside.
Looking through files.
I looked up.
“When was this taken?””
Victoria didn’t answer.
“When?””
“After Anna died.””
My fingers tightened around the paper.
“You went into her office after she died?””
“I was helping organize things.””
“You weren’t family.””
“I was going to be.””
“No.””
My voice became firm.
“You were not.””
Victoria looked hurt.
But there was something else beneath it.
Anger.
“I loved you.””
“Then why were you searching through my dead wife’s belongings?””
She looked away.
“I was looking for answers.””
“What answers?””
She didn’t respond.
I flipped through more pages.
Then I found something.
A document with Lily’s name on it.
My heart dropped.
“What is this?””
Victoria moved quickly.
“Ethan, don’t.””
I pulled it away.
It was a custody agreement draft.
A draft naming Victoria as Lily’s guardian.
My hands went numb.
“You planned this?””
“No.””
“This was prepared before we were even engaged.””
She became quiet.
“Ethan…”
“You weren’t trying to become part of our family.””
I looked at the papers.
“You were planning to take control of it.””
Her eyes filled with frustration.
“That’s not fair.””
“Then explain.””
She didn’t.
Instead, she whispered:
“Ask Evelyn.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
“She knows why Anna was afraid.””
I looked at the photograph again.
Victoria and Evelyn.
Together.
Before I ever knew Victoria existed.
My phone suddenly rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A woman’s voice spoke immediately.
“Ethan Carter?””
“Yes.””
“You found the folder, didn’t you?””
I looked at Victoria.
She had gone completely still.
“Who is this?””
The woman hesitated.
Then said:
“My name is Evelyn.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
Anna’s mother.
Victoria took one step backward.
And for the first time since I met her, she looked afraid.
Evelyn continued:
“Ethan, there is something you need to know before Victoria tells you her version of what happened.””
I stared at Victoria.
“What is it?””
Evelyn’s voice became quieter.
“Victoria didn’t enter your life by accident.””
A cold feeling moved through me.
“Then why did she?””
There was a long pause.
Then Evelyn answered:
“Because Anna discovered what Victoria wanted before she died.””
I held my breath.
“What did she want?””
May you like
Evelyn whispered:
“Your daughter.””
