Chapter 17 - VICTOR HALEVictor walked slowly toward me.
No weapon.
No guards.
Just confidence.
“You've become your husband.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“I see the same eyes.”
“You're wrong.”
He smiled.
“Then what are you?”
I looked at him.
“A widow.”
Arthur nearly smiled.
Victor glanced at Robert.
“You failed.”
Robert said nothing.
“You should have killed me when you had the chance.”
Robert replied,
“I couldn't.”
Victor laughed.
“That was always your problem.”
The FBI agents surrounded him.
Victor raised his hands.
“You think this matters?”
One agent stepped forward.
“You're under arrest.”
Victor looked at me.
“Not yet.”
He turned to the agent.
“The woman standing beside you controls evidence that will destroy half your department.”
The agents froze.
Victor smiled.
“Black Harbor is everywhere.”
Arthur whispered,
“Don't listen to him.”
Victor stepped closer to me.
“You have the money.”
“Yes.”
“You have the ledger.”
“No.”
His smile faded.
“Then you don't have everything.”
I understood.
The red ledger was missing.
Victor had it.
He reached into his coat.
I expected the ledger.
Instead, he pulled out another photograph.
Daniel.
Inside a cell.
And beside him stood Vanessa.
Alive.
She was speaking to someone.
Victor turned the photograph around.
“Your son isn't in federal custody.”
My blood went cold.
“What?”
“The man they arrested wasn't Daniel.”
Robert stepped forward.
“Then where is my son?”
Victor looked at him.
“Ask your wife.”
Everyone turned toward me.
I felt confused.
“Why me?”
Victor smiled.
“Because Daniel was sent to your account.”
“What does that mean?”
“You've been transferring money for twenty-four hours.”
I stared at Arthur.
He checked his tablet.
His face turned white.
“She’s right.”
“What?”
“The account activity.”
Victor nodded.
“Someone has been using your identity to fund an escape network.”
I looked at Robert.
“Was this your plan?”
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“For once, Robert is telling the truth.”
Then he dropped the photograph.
“Your son isn't the heir.”
I froze.
“He's the decoy.”
Robert looked horrified.
“The heir is…”
Victor pointed at me.
“You.”
Silence.
I laughed because it sounded insane.
“You're lying.”
Victor's expression changed.
“Ask Robert.”
I turned.
Robert was crying.
“What is he talking about?”
He whispered,
“Eleanor…”
“No.”
“You are the original beneficiary.”
“My husband is the heir.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Robert slowly spoke.
“Your mother.”
I froze.
“My mother?”
“She was the original trustee.”
I felt my knees weaken.
Robert continued.
“Your family was the source of the fortune.”
I shook my head.
“My family had nothing.”
“They did.”
“Then why did you marry me?”
Robert closed his eyes.
“Because I was sent to watch you.”
I stared at him.
The room disappeared.
My husband.
My marriage.
My entire life.
A lie.
Then he opened his eyes.
“But I fell in love with you.”
I whispered,
“When?”
“The first day.”
I couldn't breathe.
Victor smiled.
“Now you understand.”
He stepped toward the exit.
“You were never the woman who inherited the fortune.”
He looked back.
“You were the woman who owned it all along.”
Then the FBI arrested him.
But I didn't feel victorious.
I felt betrayed.
May you like
Because the final secret had nothing to do with $28 million.
It had to do with who I really was.
