Chapter 2 - The Sister Victoria Thought She LostVictoria took Lily upstairs to her private suite.
Marcus followed.
He refused to leave the child alone with Victoria.
Not because he distrusted Victoria.
But because something about the situation felt wrong.
Victoria sat across from Lily.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Finally, Victoria whispered:
“Tell me everything you know about your mother.”
Lily looked down.
“She told me about you.”
Victoria's heart tightened.
“What did she say?”
“That you were her favorite person.”
Victoria looked away.
“She used to call me her little shadow.”
“She said you fought a lot.”
Victoria almost smiled.
“We did.”
“She said you were stubborn.”
“I was.”
“She said you loved her.”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“I did.”
Lily studied her.
“Then why did you let her disappear?”
Victoria looked at the child.
“I didn't.”
“But you stopped looking.”
The words cut deeper than any accusation.
Victoria swallowed.
“I thought she left.”
“Why?”
“Because that's what everyone told me.”
“Who?”
Victoria hesitated.
“My husband.”
Lily nodded.
“My mother said he lied.”
Victoria stared at her.
“Why would he lie?”
“She didn't know.”
“Did she tell you anything else?”
Lily reached into her backpack.
She pulled out several envelopes.
Victoria recognized the handwriting immediately.
Elizabeth.
She opened the first.
Victoria,
I know you're angry.
But I didn't leave because I wanted to.
Victoria's hands shook.
The second letter was dated three years later.
He told me you hated me.
Victoria's breathing became shallow.
“I never said that.”
Lily nodded.
“I know.”
“How?”
“Because Mom found out.”
“Found out what?”
“That he had been lying to both of you.”
Victoria stood.
“Where did she live?”
Lily gave her the name of a small town.
Victoria recognized it.
Elizabeth had lived there for years.
Alone.
Raising Lily.
Working two jobs.
Never asking Victoria for help.
Victoria sat down again.
“Why didn't she contact me?”
“She did.”
“Then why didn't I receive anything?”
Lily looked at the envelopes.
“Because someone made sure you didn't.”
Victoria looked at Marcus.
He immediately understood.
“Mrs. Hale…”
“Get Michael Reed.”
Marcus nodded.
Michael Reed was a private investigator who had once worked for Victoria's father.
If anyone could uncover the truth, it was him.
While Marcus made the call, Lily watched Victoria.
“You know what Mom said about you?”
Victoria swallowed.
“What?”
“She said you were not a bad person.”
Victoria looked up.
“What?”
“She said you made one terrible mistake.”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“What mistake?”
“She said you trusted the wrong man.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
Richard.
Her late husband.
The man she had loved.
The man she had built her empire beside.
The man she had defended when Elizabeth accused him of hiding money.
The man who had told Victoria:
Your sister is jealous of us.
She doesn't want you to be happy.
She left because she couldn't accept your marriage.
Victoria had believed him.
Now every word sounded different.
Michael arrived forty minutes later.
He was sixty years old and had spent decades investigating financial crimes.
Victoria handed him the photograph.
He stared at it.
Then looked at Lily.
Then back at the photograph.
“I remember Elizabeth.”
Victoria froze.
“You knew her?”
Michael nodded.
“I investigated her disappearance.”
Victoria stood.
“Who hired you?”
Michael hesitated.
“Richard Hale.”
Victoria's stomach dropped.
“Why?”
“He wanted me to find her.”
“Why would he?”
May you like
Michael's expression darkened.
“Because he was afraid of what she knew.”
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