Chapter 2: The Woman Who Wanted Everything
The morning after Maya sent the message, Victoria arrived at the house carrying three shopping bags.
Marcus was in his office reviewing construction contracts when he heard her voice.
"Good morning, Maya!""
No answer.
Victoria placed the bags on the kitchen counter.
"I bought you something.""
Maya appeared at the doorway wearing her school uniform.
"What is it?""
"A dress for the wedding.""
Victoria pulled out a pale pink dress with a satin ribbon around the waist.
Maya looked at it.
"It's pretty.""
"Try it on.""
"I have homework.""
"It will only take a minute.""
Maya hesitated.
Victoria placed the dress against her.
"You'll look adorable. We should make sure you match the wedding colors.""
"I thought I wasn't walking down the aisle.""
Victoria's smile tightened.
"Plans change.""
Maya stepped backward.
"I don't want to.""
Victoria lowered the dress.
"Excuse me?""
"I don't want to wear it.""
For a moment, the kitchen went quiet.
Then Victoria smiled again.
"You're at an age where you think every little decision needs to be a battle. You'll understand when you're older.""
Maya walked away.
Victoria watched her climb the stairs.
Then she took out her phone.
"She's getting worse," she whispered.
Marcus noticed the tension that evening.
He found Victoria sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone.
"Everything okay?""
Victoria sighed.
"Your daughter doesn't like me.""
Marcus sat beside her.
"She's still adjusting.""
"Marcus, we've been together for over a year.""
"I know.""
"I've tried everything. Gifts, conversations, taking her shopping. Nothing works.""
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"She's lost her mother. This isn't easy for her.""
Victoria turned toward him.
"And what about me? Am I supposed to spend the rest of my life proving I deserve to be in this family?""
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
Victoria reached for his hand.
"I love you. I want us to have a future. But I need to know that you'll stand beside me.""
"I will.""
"Even when Maya is being difficult?""
"Victoria, she's twelve.""
"Exactly. Old enough to understand that people have boundaries.""
Marcus frowned.
"What boundaries?""
Victoria sighed dramatically.
"Never mind. Forget I said anything.""
She leaned against his shoulder.
Marcus stared at the television without seeing it.
Upstairs, Maya sat on her bed, listening.
She had heard every word.
Three days later, Aunt Claire arrived.
Claire was forty-one, with dark hair, gentle eyes, and the same crooked smile Elena had possessed.
Maya ran into her arms.
"Aunt Claire!""
Claire hugged her tightly.
"Look at you. You're getting so tall.""
Maya pulled her toward the living room.
"Can we talk?""
Claire glanced at Marcus, who was making coffee.
"Of course.""
They went into the garden.
For several minutes, Maya said nothing.
Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out the silver ring.
Claire's expression changed immediately.
"Where did you get that?""
"Mom's jewelry box.""
Claire sat down on the garden bench.
"Oh, Maya.""
"Do you remember what Mom told us?""
Claire nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
"Does Dad remember?""
Claire looked toward the kitchen window.
"I don't know.""
Maya's fingers tightened around the ring.
"Victoria said something. She said she doesn't want to compete with a dead woman.""
Claire closed her eyes.
"She said that?""
Maya nodded.
"She thinks Dad is going to forget Mom.""
Claire took the little girl's hands.
"Listen to me. Your father will never forget Elena.""
"Then why doesn't he see what's happening?""
Claire had no answer.
Instead, she asked, "Have you shown him the photograph?""
Maya shook her head.
"Not yet.""
"Do you still have it?""
"Yes. Mom gave it to me before she died.""
Claire looked toward the house again.
"Then it's time.""
That afternoon, Claire asked Marcus to meet her privately.
They sat in his office.
"There's something we need to discuss," Claire began.
Marcus leaned back.
"That sounds serious.""
"It is.""
She placed an old envelope on his desk.
Marcus stared at it.
He recognized Elena's handwriting immediately.
His throat tightened.
"Where did you get this?""
"Elena gave it to me shortly before the accident.""
Marcus opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph of Elena holding newborn Maya.
On the back, she had written:
For the day when Maya needs to understand why her father promised to protect her.
Marcus looked up.
"What does this mean?""
Claire folded her hands.
"Elena was worried about something before she died.""
"What?""
"She had discovered that someone close to the family was using your company to move money.""
Marcus frowned.
"That's impossible.""
"I thought so too.""
"Claire, are you telling me Elena believed someone was stealing from me?""
"I'm telling you she found documents.""
Marcus stood.
"Why didn't you tell me this three years ago?""
"Because she asked me not to until Maya was old enough to understand.""
Marcus stared at the photograph.
"Did she name the person?""
Claire shook her head.
"Not in that letter.""
He walked to the window.
For years, he had believed the worst thing that had ever happened to his family was the accident.
Now he was beginning to wonder whether Elena had been frightened long before that night.
"Why are you telling me now?""
Claire looked directly at him.
"Because Maya believes the person Elena was afraid of is still in your house.""
Marcus turned sharply.
"What?""
Claire stood.
"Ask your daughter what she heard.""
That evening, Marcus knocked on Maya's bedroom door.
"Can I come in?""
Maya quickly put the silver ring beneath her pillow.
"Yes.""
Marcus sat on the edge of her bed.
"Aunt Claire showed me something today.""
Maya looked nervous.
"Did she tell you?""
"She told me your mother left a letter.""
Maya nodded.
"Mom said you'd need to know.""
Marcus studied her face.
"Sweetheart, what have you heard?""
Maya hesitated.
Then she repeated Victoria's words.
Every single one.
Marcus listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he stared at the carpet.
"Are you sure she said that?""
Maya nodded.
"She was talking to someone on the phone.""
Marcus took a slow breath.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?""
"Because you love her.""
His expression broke.
"Maya...""
"You always look happy when she's around. I didn't want to make you sad again.""
Marcus pulled her into his arms.
"You never have to protect me from the truth.""
Maya began crying.
"I don't want another person to leave.""
Marcus kissed the top of her head.
"Nobody is going to take you away from me.""
But when he left her room, he didn't go downstairs to speak to Victoria.
He went straight to his office.
He called his company's chief financial officer, Daniel Brooks.
"Daniel, I need you to check every transaction connected to the family trust.""
There was a pause.
"Tonight?""
"Tonight.""
"Marcus, is something wrong?""
"I think someone has been using my daughter's inheritance.""
Daniel went silent.
Then he asked a question Marcus wasn't prepared for.
"Does this have anything to do with Elena's accident?""
Marcus gripped the phone.
"What did you just say?""
The next morning, Daniel arrived at the house carrying a thick folder.
Marcus met him in the study.
"Tell me everything.""
Daniel placed the folder on the desk.
"I found irregular transfers from the account Elena established for Maya.""
"How much?""
"Just over four hundred thousand dollars.""
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
"Who authorized them?""
Daniel hesitated.
"The signatures were submitted through a third-party administrator.""
"Name?""
Daniel opened the folder.
"Hayes Financial Services.""
Marcus stared at him.
Victoria's family business.
He turned another page.
There was a photograph attached to the financial records.
A man standing outside a private office building.
Marcus recognized him.
It was Victoria's older brother, Richard.
But beneath the photograph was a date.
Three days before Elena's accident.
Marcus looked up.
"Why is Richard connected to my wife's account?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Because he wasn't the only one.""
He slid another photograph across the desk.
Marcus picked it up.
May you like
The woman standing beside Richard was wearing a familiar silver bracelet.
It was Victoria.
