Chapter 7 - Victoria KnewRichard stepped into the light.
“Victoria.”
She stopped.
For one second, surprise crossed her face.
Then she smiled.
“I wondered how long it would take you.”
Emily stared.
“You knew about the room.”
Victoria looked at her.
“I know more about this family than you ever will.”
Richard’s voice hardened.
“You locked us inside?”
Victoria shrugged.
“I locked a door.”
“Why?”
“To see what she would find.”
Emily lifted the metal box.
Victoria’s eyes flickered toward it.
There.
That was what she wanted.
Richard noticed too.
“You knew about Eleanor’s documents.”
Victoria smiled.
“My father left journals.”
Richard’s jaw tightened.
“Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“What did he write?”
“That Grandfather was terrified of Eleanor.”
Emily stepped closer.
“Why?”
Victoria looked at her.
“Because she discovered where the money came from.”
Richard stiffened.
“What money?”
Victoria laughed.
“You really never knew?”
“No.”
“The Whitmore fortune wasn’t built on railways and land.”
Richard said nothing.
Victoria continued.
“Charles used the family trusts to move money for people who needed it hidden.”
Emily frowned.
“Money laundering?”
“Among other things.”
Richard’s face went dark.
“And Eleanor found proof.”
Victoria nodded.
“She threatened to expose him.”
“Then what happened?”
Victoria looked at Emily.
“She got pregnant.”
Emily’s throat tightened.
“What does that have to do with it?”
“Everything.”
Victoria moved closer.
“Your grandmother believed the baby would protect her.”
“From Charles?”
“Yes.”
“But it didn’t.”
“No.”
Emily looked at Richard.
“Who was Anna’s father?”
Richard shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Victoria smiled.
“I do.”
Emily’s pulse jumped.
“Who?”
Victoria tilted her head.
“Ask Richard.”
He stared at her.
“What are you talking about?”
“My father wrote that you knew.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Maybe.”
Victoria’s smile disappeared.
“But Daniel believed Anna’s father was the reason Charles panicked.”
Emily’s stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Because he wasn’t a servant.”
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“Who was he?”
Victoria leaned against the stone wall.
“Someone powerful enough to destroy Charles.”
Emily took a step toward her.
“Tell me.”
Victoria looked at the metal box.
“Give me Eleanor’s letters.”
“No.”
“Then you don’t get the name.”
Richard moved between them.
“This ends now.”
Victoria laughed softly.
“You still think you’re in control.”
“I am.”
“No, Uncle Richard.”
Emily noticed the emphasis.
Uncle.
“You never were.”
Victoria pulled out her phone.
A video began playing.
Richard went still.
The footage showed Anna.
Emily’s mother.
Standing in a room inside the castle.
Six months earlier.
Richard was there.
So was Victoria.
Emily stared.
“You met her.”
Richard’s face went pale.
Emily turned on him.
“You said Victoria possibly knew she came here.”
Richard closed his eyes.
Victoria smiled.
“He lies beautifully when he’s frightened.”
Emily’s voice shook.
“What happened after this?”
Victoria tapped the screen.
The video continued.
Anna placed something on a table.
A folder.
She said, “If Emily ever comes here, you protect her.”
Richard replied, “I promise.”
Emily felt something break inside her.
Her mother had trusted him.
Richard had lied.
Victoria paused the video.
Emily looked at him.
“You promised her.”
“Yes.”
“And then you let Victoria hold my head underwater.”
Richard’s face twisted.
“I didn’t know who you were.”
“My mother gave you my name.”
“She never showed me a photograph.”
“Convenient.”
Richard stepped closer.
“Emily—”
She backed away.
“No.”
Victoria watched them like someone enjoying theater.
Emily turned to her.
“Why were you in the meeting?”
Victoria’s smile faded.
“Because Anna asked for me.”
“Why?”
“She believed Daniel left something behind.”
“What?”
“A confession.”
Richard stiffened.
Victoria continued.
“She wanted my father’s journals.”
“Did you give them to her?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she offered nothing in return.”
Emily stared.
“She was dying.”
Victoria’s expression didn’t change.
“She still knew how to negotiate.”
Richard looked disgusted.
“You are exactly like Daniel.”
Victoria’s eyes flashed.
“And you’re exactly like your father.”
Richard lifted his cane.
Emily grabbed his arm.
“Stop.”
He froze.
She looked at Victoria.
“Where are the journals?”
Victoria smiled.
“Safe.”
“Where?”
“Give me the box.”
Emily tightened her grip.
“No.”
Victoria took one step forward.
Then stopped.
A sound echoed through the passage.
Sirens.
Police arriving at the castle.
Victoria’s smile vanished.
Richard looked at her.
“You’re finished.”
Victoria laughed.
“No.”
She looked directly at Emily.
“Not until she finds out who her grandfather was.”
Emily’s heart raced.
“Who?”
Victoria leaned close enough to whisper.
“The man whose name is still on this castle.”
Then she turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Emily stared after her.
Richard went completely still.
Emily slowly faced him.
“The man whose name is still on this castle.”
Richard looked sick.
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And Emily realized there was only one name carved above every entrance.
Charles Whitmore.
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