Chapter 6: The Witness Victoria Forgot
Victoria looked like she had seen a ghost.
And maybe she had.
Because the woman standing behind Aunt Rachel wasn’t supposed to be here.
Not according to Victoria.
Not according to the lies she had told me for years.
“Mrs. Collins?””
My father whispered the name.
The woman lowered her eyes.
“Daniel.””
I looked at Aunt Rachel.
Then at the older woman holding the box.
“Who is she?””
Nobody answered.
Victoria took a step backward.
“No.””
The word came out quietly.
Almost like a prayer.
Aunt Rachel looked at her.
“You didn’t think she would ever talk, did you?””
Victoria’s face hardened.
“You have no right to be here.””
Mrs. Collins looked at her sadly.
“I was waiting for the right time.””
Dad frowned.
“What is happening?””
Aunt Rachel walked closer.
“The truth.””
She pointed toward the box.
“Everything she tried to hide.””
Victoria shook her head.
“Daniel, don’t listen to them.””
Dad looked at her.
“I’ve been listening to you for years.””
The sentence hurt her.
I saw it.
For the first time, her confidence disappeared.
Mrs. Collins placed the box on the table.
“I worked for your family before Emma’s mother passed away.””
Dad looked surprised.
“You were our housekeeper.””
She nodded.
“I was there when everything happened.””
My heart started beating faster.
“When what happened?””
Mrs. Collins looked at me.
“When your mother became suspicious of Victoria.””
The room went silent.
My father froze.
“What?””
Victoria immediately interrupted.
“That’s ridiculous.””
Mrs. Collins didn’t look at her.
“Your wife was hiding things.””
Dad stared.
“What things?””
“Money.””
The same word.
Again.
Money.
Mrs. Collins opened the box.
Inside were old papers.
Photographs.
Receipts.
Letters.
“She was already taking money before Emma’s mother died.””
My father looked shocked.
“That’s impossible.””
Mrs. Collins shook her head.
“I wanted to tell you.””
“Then why didn’t you?””
Her eyes filled with regret.
“Because Victoria threatened me.””
Victoria laughed nervously.
“She’s lying.””
Mrs. Collins looked at her.
“You told me you would make sure I never found work again.””
The room became heavy.
Dad looked at Victoria.
“Did you?””
She looked away.
That was answer enough.
I watched my father’s face.
Every new truth was breaking something inside him.
Not because he lost money.
Because he realized he had trusted the wrong person.
Mrs. Collins pulled out a photograph.
“This was taken two months before your wife died.””
Dad took it.
His hands shook.
It showed Victoria.
Sitting at a restaurant.
Talking to another man.
The same man from the photo I received.
Dad stared.
“Who is he?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Aunt Rachel answered.
“Someone Victoria was planning a future with.””
My father looked at Victoria.
“No.””
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
“Daniel, it’s not what you think.””
“Then what is it?””
She couldn’t answer.
The silence destroyed her more than any confession.
Dad placed the photo down.
“You lied to me.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“I loved you.””
“No.””
His voice cracked.
“You loved what I could give you.””
She started crying.
But this time, nobody rushed to comfort her.
Not me.
Not my father.
Not even Brandon.
Because he was standing at the doorway.
Watching everything.
His face was pale.
“Mom…”
Victoria turned.
“Brandon, go upstairs.””
He didn’t move.
“Mom, is this true?””
She stared at her son.
“Don’t start.””
“You told me Emma was the problem.””
Nobody spoke.
Brandon looked at me.
And for the first time in years…
He looked ashamed.
“I didn’t know.””
I almost laughed.
But I didn’t.
Because knowing or not knowing didn’t erase what happened.
Dad walked toward the table.
He picked up the bank statements.
Then the documents.
Then the fake letter.
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
“Tomorrow morning, we are going to the bank.””
Victoria’s face changed.
“What?””
“I want every record.””
“Daniel—”
“And after that…”
He looked at her.
“I’m filing for divorce.””
The room went silent.
I thought that would be the end.
I thought Victoria had finally lost.
But as she stood there, staring at my father, something changed.
The fear disappeared.
And something colder replaced it.
She wiped her tears.
Then smiled.
A small, dangerous smile.
“You think divorce is the worst thing that can happen?””
My father frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She looked at me.
Not him.
Me.
Then she said:
“Ask your daughter why her mother really died.””
My blood turned cold.
Because I knew that look.
Victoria wasn’t finished.
She had been saving her darkest secret.
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And now…
She was ready to use it.