Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS ERASED
Victoria had been hiding for twenty years.
She had watched the family from a distance.
She knew about the trust.
She knew about Lillian.
She knew about me.
But she had never approached us.
Because she believed my grandfather was still watching.
Dad found her through an old bank account.
The address led to a small house outside Milwaukee.
When we arrived, the front door was open.
Inside were photographs.
Hundreds.
My mother.
Grandma.
Lillian.
Thomas.
Me.
And Dad.
Victoria had been watching us.
Then a woman appeared at the top of the stairs.
She was older than my mother.
But her eyes were familiar.
My mother whispered:
“Victoria.”
The woman smiled sadly.
“Sophia.”
They embraced.
Dad stared.
“You knew each other.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Victoria looked at him.
“Because your father would have killed you.”
Dad shook his head.
“He almost did anyway.”
Victoria looked at me.
“Lily.”
I stepped closer.
“You're Grandma's sister.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you hide?”
“To protect you.”
“From Grandpa?”
“Yes.”
She knelt.
“I knew your mother was pregnant with you.”
“Did you know about Lillian?”
“I helped save her.”
“Where is Thomas?”
Victoria's face changed.
“He is alive.”
Dad froze.
“Where?”
“Not far.”
She opened a hidden door.
Behind it was a small office.
A computer.
Files.
And a live video feed.
Thomas appeared on screen.
Older.
Thin.
But alive.
Dad couldn't speak.
Thomas smiled.
“Hello, Daniel.”
Dad covered his face.
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you come home?”
“Because your grandfather wanted me dead.”
“What happened?”
Thomas explained.
He had discovered the original trust.
He had found proof that my grandfather had manipulated the family.
He had tried to expose him.
Robert captured him.
He escaped.
Then he disappeared.
“Where are you now?”
Thomas looked at Victoria.
“She knows.”
Victoria nodded.
“He is in Canada.”
Dad stared.
“We're bringing him home.”
Thomas shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because there is one final person you haven't found.”
“Who?”
Thomas looked directly at me.
“The fourth heir.”
Everyone froze.
Dad whispered:
“What?”
Thomas continued:
“Your grandfather had another child.”
Victoria looked down.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Emily.”
Dad frowned.
“Who is Emily?”
“Your grandfather's youngest daughter.”
My mother stared.
“I thought she died.”
“She didn't.”
“Where is she?”
Victoria answered:
“She is Vanessa's mother.”
Silence.
Vanessa's face went white.
“My mother?”
Victoria nodded.
“She changed her name.”
Dad stared at Vanessa.
“So Vanessa knew?”
“No.”
“She didn't know her mother was part of this?”
“No.”
Vanessa began crying.
“My mother told me she was dead.”
“She was hiding.”
“Why?”
“Because she had the original inheritance documents.”
Dad stepped forward.
“Where are they?”
Victoria smiled sadly.
“Your grandmother hid them.”
“Where?”
“Inside the house.”
Dad frowned.
“The mansion?”
“No.”
“Then where?”
Victoria looked at me.
“Inside the dining table.”
I remembered the table.
The same table where Vanessa had humiliated me.
The same table where Dad had placed the inheritance papers.
Victoria continued:
“The table was built around a hidden compartment.”
Dad's face changed.
“We searched it.”
“You searched the wrong side.”
We returned to the mansion.
The dining room was empty.
The table remained.
Dad removed the marble top.
Nothing.
Victoria pointed underneath.
“Turn it over.”
They did.
A small metal plate was hidden beneath.
Dad used the silver key.
A compartment opened.
Inside was a sealed envelope.
The original trust.
And another document.
A birth certificate.
The name of the mother was:
Emily Reed.
The father:
Richard Hayes.
The child:
Vanessa Reed.
Vanessa stared.
“My mother…”
Dad read the next page.
His face went pale.
“She wasn't trying to steal the inheritance.”
Victoria nodded.
“She was trying to recover it.”
Vanessa looked at me.
“Then why did she hurt you?”
Victoria answered:
“Because your grandfather convinced her that Lily was the reason your mother lost everything.”
Vanessa covered her face.
She had been used.
Again.
Then Dad found one final page.
A handwritten note.
Grandma's handwriting.
If Vanessa ever learns the truth, protect her from Richard.
Dad looked at her.
“Your grandmother knew.”
Vanessa cried.
“I thought she hated me.”
“She was trying to save you.”
Then the mansion lights went out.
A voice came from the doorway.
“Too late.”
My grandfather stood there.
And beside him was a woman I had never seen.
Vanessa stared.
“Mom?”
The woman smiled.
“Yes.”
May you like
Then she pointed at the trust.
“Give me the papers.”
