Chapter 6: The Man Behind Victoria’s Secret
By morning, the mansion felt different.
The same walls.
The same expensive furniture.
The same perfect appearance.
But Arthur saw everything differently now.
Every smile seemed rehearsed.
Every silence seemed suspicious.
Victoria was sitting in the dining room when he entered.
She looked calm.
Too calm.
A cup of coffee sat untouched in front of her.
“You’re making this dramatic,” she said.
Arthur pulled out a chair across from her.
“I’m just getting started.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Are you threatening me?””
“No.””
Arthur looked at her.
“I’m warning you.””
Victoria laughed softly.
“You always did think you could control everything.””
Arthur studied her.
“And you always thought you could hide everything.””
For the first time, her expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“You searched my home.””
“I searched my property.””
“Same thing.””
“No.””
Arthur leaned forward.
“This stopped being about property when my grandson became afraid of his own house.””
Victoria looked away.
“You don’t know the full story.””
“Then tell me.””
She said nothing.
Arthur waited.
That was something most people could not do.
They rushed.
They argued.
They filled silence because silence made them uncomfortable.
Arthur knew silence was where truth usually appeared.
Finally, Victoria spoke.
“Michael was not the man you thought he was.””
Arthur’s expression changed.
“Be careful.””
“I’m serious.””
“So am I.””
She folded her hands.
“Your son had problems.””
Arthur stared.
“What problems?””
“He was overwhelmed.””
Arthur shook his head.
“Everybody gets overwhelmed.””
“He wasn’t prepared to run this family.””
Arthur leaned back.
There it was.
The real wound.
Victoria had never respected Michael.
She respected Arthur’s power.
Michael had been too kind for her.
Too human.
“You wanted control,” Arthur said.
Victoria looked offended.
“I wanted stability.””
“No.””
Arthur’s voice sharpened.
“You wanted authority.””
Her jaw tightened.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed.””
Arthur looked at her.
“Neither did Leo.””
The room went silent.
A notification came through Arthur’s phone.
The security technician.
He opened the message.
A name.
The man from the footage.
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
Victoria noticed.
“What is it?””
Arthur looked up.
“You tell me.””
He placed the phone on the table.
The screen showed a picture.
Victoria’s face lost color.
The man was Daniel Cross.
Her former financial advisor.
And someone Arthur knew.
Years ago, Daniel had worked for one of Arthur’s companies.
Until money disappeared.
Until an investigation began.
Until Daniel vanished before charges could be filed.
Arthur looked at Victoria.
“How long have you known him?””
She said nothing.
“How long?””
Her silence was the answer.
Arthur stood.
“You brought him into my family.””
Victoria’s voice finally cracked.
“You don’t understand.””
“No.””
Arthur shook his head.
“I understand perfectly.””
He turned toward the doorway.
Then stopped.
“Where is Daniel now?””
Victoria looked at him.
And for the first time, she looked genuinely afraid.
“I don’t know.””
Arthur believed her.
But that worried him more.
Because Victoria was many things.
Cold.
Manipulative.
Controlling.
But she was not someone who looked afraid unless something was beyond her control.
Arthur walked away.
His phone rang again.
The security technician.
This time, his voice sounded different.
“Mr. Whitmore.””
“What?””
“We found the missing footage.””
Arthur stopped.
“And?””
A pause.
Then:
“You need to see this yourself.””
Arthur looked back at Victoria.
She was watching him.
Waiting.
Terrified.
Arthur ended the call.
Because whatever was on that footage had the power to change everything.
May you like
Not just what happened to Leo.
But what really happened to Michael.
