Chapter 4 - VICTORIA'S LAST LIEVictoria entered her office.
She locked the door.
Her hands shook.
She opened a safe.
Inside were documents.
Old photographs.
A flash drive.
And a passport.
She had planned for this.
She always did.
Victoria had survived scandals before.
She knew what people forgot.
Money.
Power.
Fear.
Those things could erase almost anything.
She picked up the flash drive.
Then stopped.
Someone was standing behind her.
Daniel.
“You're not going anywhere.”
Victoria turned.
“Daniel.”
“Tell me the truth.”
She smiled weakly.
“You don't want the truth.”
“Yes, I do.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“I did what I had to do.”
“You stole my son.”
“I protected you.”
“You destroyed Sarah's life.”
“She was nobody.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“She was the mother of my child.”
Victoria shook her head.
“You would have chosen her.”
“Yes.”
“You would have thrown everything away.”
“Yes.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“And that's why I stopped you.”
Daniel stared.
“You admit it?”
“I admit nothing.”
Julian entered.
“You just did.”
Victoria turned.
Julian held up a recording device.
“Every word.”
Victoria's face went pale.
“You can't use that.”
“Watch me.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Where is Emily?”
Victoria's expression changed.
“She died.”
“Because of you?”
“No.”
“Then why did you threaten her?”
Victoria looked away.
“I was angry.”
Julian said,
“You were afraid.”
Victoria whispered,
“Yes.”
Sarah entered.
Victoria looked at her.
“I never wanted you to suffer.”
Sarah laughed.
“You humiliated me tonight.”
“I didn't know who you were.”
“You knew exactly who I was.”
Victoria froze.
Sarah stepped closer.
“You knew my name.”
Silence.
“You knew my mother.”
Victoria didn't answer.
“You knew Leo existed.”
Nothing.
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“You knew everything.”
Victoria whispered,
“I did.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
For thirty years, he had believed Victoria was simply controlling.
Now he understood.
She had orchestrated everything.
Sarah looked at Leo.
Then back at Victoria.
“You stole my childhood.”
Victoria shook her head.
“I gave you a chance.”
“No.”
Sarah's voice became firm.
“You gave me poverty.”
Daniel stepped toward Sarah.
“You won't be alone anymore.”
Sarah looked at him.
“I don't need your money.”
“I know.”
“I don't want your mansion.”
“I know.”
“I don't want your company.”
“I know.”
Sarah's voice broke.
“I wanted my son to have his father.”
Daniel nodded.
“Then that's what I'll give him.”
Victoria watched them.
For the first time, she realized she had lost.
Not because of money.
Because the people she had separated were now standing together.
Then the police arrived.
Victoria was arrested.
But before they took her away, she looked at Sarah.
“You think you've won?”
Sarah shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Leo.
May you like
“I don't want to win.”
“I want my family back.”
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