Chapter 9: The Man Who Bought My Father's Silence
Daniel pushed me behind him.
Victor Hale walked slowly toward the cottage, adjusting the cuff of his expensive coat.
He didn't look surprised to see us.
In fact, he looked almost amused.
“It's been a long time, Daniel.””
Daniel stood between Victor and me.
“You shouldn't be here.””
Victor laughed.
“Still giving orders? I thought you'd grown out of that.””
I looked at the man who had appeared in my mother's recording.
“You knew my mother.””
Victor's smile faded slightly.
“Of course I did.””
“Did you steal her designs?””
He glanced at Daniel.
“She's certainly direct.””
“I asked you a question.””
Victor studied me.
Then he smiled again.
“Your mother was a brilliant woman. Unfortunately, brilliance doesn't always come with business sense.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Don't talk about Eleanor.””
Victor raised both hands.
“I'm not here to argue.””
“Then leave.””
Victor ignored him.
He looked directly at me.
“Maya, I understand you've been given a rather distorted version of events. Your mother and I had a business disagreement. That's all.””
“Then why did she say you were lying?””
His expression tightened.
“What?””
I held up the memory card.
“She recorded everything.””
For the first time, Victor looked genuinely concerned.
Daniel noticed.
“Interesting, isn't it?”” he said.
“You seem to know exactly what she's talking about.””
Victor straightened his jacket.
“Give me the card.””
“No.””
“It's not yours.””
“It was left by my mother.””
Victor took a step closer.
“Maya, listen carefully. You're young. You have no idea how complicated these matters can become.””
“I know my mother died.””
The words came out before I could stop them.
Victor stared at me.
“I'm sorry for your loss.””
“Were you responsible?””
Daniel grabbed my shoulder.
“Maya.””
Victor's expression hardened.
“Be careful with accusations.””
“Then answer me.””
He looked at Daniel.
“Your niece has been spending too much time with you.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Leave.””
Victor sighed.
“Fine. But before I go, there's something you should know.””
He reached into his coat and removed a folded document.
He held it out.
Daniel didn't take it.
Victor placed it on the table near the door.
“Richard signed an agreement transferring the commercial rights to the collection. The transaction was legal. Your mother was compensated.””
“That isn't true,” I said.
Victor shrugged.
“Then prove it.””
He turned toward his SUV.
Before getting inside, he looked back.
“One more thing, Maya. Your father knows exactly where the original documents are.””
The SUV drove away.
Daniel immediately locked the door.
I stared at the document.
“Should we look at it?””
He nodded.
We opened it carefully.
It was a photocopy of a commercial rights agreement.
My father's signature appeared on the last page.
So did Vanessa's.
But my mother's signature was missing.
Instead, there was a typed statement claiming she had verbally approved the transfer.
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Of course.””
“What?””
“Eleanor never approved anything verbally. She insisted on written contracts for every commercial arrangement.””
I looked at the date.
It was six months after her death.
My stomach twisted.
“Mom was already dead.””
Daniel nodded.
“This agreement was created after she died.””
“Then why did Dad sign it?””
“That's what we're going to find out.””
I took a photograph of every page.
Then I noticed a small reference number at the top.
A bank account number.
“What's this?””
Daniel leaned closer.
“That's the account where the proceeds were deposited.””
“Can we trace it?””
“Not without legal authority. But Olivia may be able to help.””
I called her.
She answered on the second ring.
“Maya?””
“I'm with Uncle Daniel. We found something.””
I explained the agreement.
There was a pause.
Then Olivia said, “Send me a photograph.””
I did.
A few moments later, she called back.
“Maya, this is important.””
“What?””
“That account is connected to Bennett Creative Holdings.””
“Vanessa's company?””
“Yes. But that's not the most interesting part.””
I waited.
“The company was established three months before the transfer. The initial deposit came from a personal account belonging to Richard Bennett.””
I looked at Daniel.
My father had funded the company that received my mother's collection.
Olivia continued.
“There's also a second payment listed in the records. A substantial amount was transferred to an account registered under Margaret Collins.””
“Margaret?”” I asked.
“Yes. The same woman who witnessed the original agreement.””
Daniel leaned toward the phone.
“Do you know where she is?””
Olivia hesitated.
“I may.””
My heart started racing.
“Where?””
“I've found a property associated with her name. It's a small house in Connecticut. The records show a recent utility payment.””
Daniel stood.
“She's alive.””
Olivia replied, “Possibly. But there's something else.””
“What?””
“The property is currently owned by a company connected to Victor Hale.””
Daniel went silent.
I looked at him.
“Why would Victor own Margaret's house?””
“That's exactly what we need to find out,” Olivia said.
Before she could continue, my phone rang.
Dad.
I answered.
“Hello?””
“Maya, where are you?””
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa is telling me you left with Daniel.””
“That's true.””
His voice became tense.
“You need to come home.””
“Why?””
“There's something you don't understand.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Then explain it.””
My father lowered his voice.
“Vanessa found the letter.””
My heart stopped.
“What letter?””
“The one your mother left in the safe.””
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“Did she open it?””
“No. But she knows what's inside.””
I stared at the memory card.
“Dad, what did Mom leave?””
Richard was silent for several seconds.
Then he said, “A confession.””
My stomach dropped.
“Whose confession?””
His voice broke.
“Mine.””
I couldn't breathe.
“What did you do?””
“I need you to come home. I'll explain everything.””
“Why should I believe you?””
“Because your mother made me promise something before she died.””
“What?””
He began crying.
“She made me promise that if you ever discovered the truth, I would tell you what really happened that night.””
I looked at Daniel.
His face had become rigid.
“Which night?”” I whispered.
My father answered.
“The night your mother died.””
The call disconnected.
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
Then Daniel took the phone from my hand.
“We're not going back to that house without Olivia.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard may finally be ready to tell the truth. But Vanessa will do anything to stop him.””
My phone vibrated again.
A message from Brielle.
*Brielle: Maya, please answer me.*
Another message followed.
*Brielle: Mom found the letter. She's burning it.*
I stared at the screen.
Then came the final message.
*Brielle: Dad tried to stop her. She just locked him in the study.*
I looked at Daniel.
“We have to go.””
He grabbed his briefcase.
May you like
And as we rushed toward the door, one final message appeared from Brielle.
*Brielle: Maya, I think Mom is going to hurt Dad.*
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