Chapter 3 – The Secret Victoria Buried
Evelyn’s question turned the lobby into a graveyard of silence.
The old man lowered his eyes.
“Your father lived longer than they told you.”
Evelyn nearly collapsed.
Victoria quickly stepped forward.
“Ms. Carter, this man is manipulating you. We should call the police.”
But Evelyn didn’t look at her.
She stared only at the envelope.
Inside was a letter, a rusted key, and an old black-and-white photograph.
In the photo, Evelyn was seven years old, sitting on her father’s shoulders outside a small house.
On the back, one sentence was written:
“They took everything from us, but not the truth.”
Evelyn’s voice broke.
“Who took him from me?”
The old man slowly lifted his shaking hand…
…and pointed at Victoria.
“She knows.”
Gasps exploded across the lobby.
Victoria’s face went pale.
“That’s a lie!”
The old man stepped closer.
“Your father never abandoned you, Evelyn. He was framed. Locked away. Silenced.”
Evelyn turned to Victoria.
“You told me he died in an accident.”
Victoria swallowed hard.
“I was protecting you.”
“No,” the old man said coldly. “You were protecting the people who stole this company.”
Then he revealed the twist no one expected.
“Sterling Global was never founded by the Sterling family.”
“It belonged to your father.”
“And this key opens the room where the original ownership papers are hidden.”
Victoria suddenly lunged for the envelope.
But Evelyn pulled it back just in time.
Security moved in.
This time, not toward the old man.
Toward Victoria.
May you like
And for the first time in her life…
Victoria looked afraid.
