“VICTORIA STERLING CHANGED THE RECORDS HERSELF?” Alexander stared at Detective Bennett.
The morning light streamed through the windows of the Vance Estate, illuminating the marble floors where the engagement gala had ended in humiliation and chaos.
Only days earlier, Alexander had believed Victoria was merely cruel and arrogant.
Now he was learning that she had been involved in a conspiracy surrounding a stolen child, forged identities, and a mother who had spent seventeen years searching for her son.
Bennett nodded.
“Evelyn identified Victoria as the person who altered the visitor record. We still need independent evidence, but the handwriting is being examined.”
Alexander clenched his jaw.
“Victoria was helping Richard.”
“Possibly. But her exact role remains unclear.”
Maria stood beside the window.
Her thoughts were with Gabriel.
He was seventeen.
Frightened.
Confused.
And surrounded by people who had lied to him since birth.
She turned to face Bennett.
“Do we know where he is?”
“Not yet.”
Maria's eyes filled with tears.
“He called me his sister.”
Alexander looked toward her.
“Maria—”
“I know we don't have proof we're related. I know the DNA report might be false. But he believes I'm family.”
Her voice broke.
“And right now, he needs someone who isn't trying to use him.”
Alexander nodded.
“Then we'll find him.”
Maria looked at him.
“Promise me something.”
“What?”
“When we do, don't treat him like an enemy.”
Alexander stared.
The boy had been trained to steal his identity.
His signature.
His inheritance.
Possibly his entire life.
But Maria was asking him to remember that Gabriel had been a child when the conspiracy began.
Alexander exhaled.
“I won't.”
At the Sterling Estate, Victoria stood alone in her father's office.
She had just discovered that Richard had removed Gabriel from the mansion.
His bedroom was empty.
His phone had been left on the desk.
And the photograph of the woman believed to be his biological mother was gone.
Victoria stared at the empty room.
For years, she had believed her father was building an empire that would protect the Sterling family.
She had helped him gather information about the Vances.
She had agreed to marry Alexander.
She had pursued the heirloom ring.
And she had convinced herself that the money would justify whatever sacrifices were required.
But Gabriel had changed something.
The boy had looked at her with the same fear she remembered feeling as a child whenever Richard entered a room.
Victoria had spent her life trying to earn her father's approval.
Gabriel had spent his life trying to discover whether he had ever been loved.
Now she understood how similar their prisons had been.
A knock sounded.
Victoria turned.
Dr. Eleanor Price entered.
She was wearing a dark coat and carrying a leather medical bag.
Victoria stared.
“You.”
Eleanor smiled faintly.
“Hello, Victoria.”
“Where's Gabriel?”
Eleanor closed the door.
“Somewhere safe.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“That's Richard's favorite phrase.”
Eleanor placed the bag on the desk.
“Your father asked me to speak with you.”
Victoria folded her arms.
“Then he should have come himself.”
Eleanor's expression hardened.
“Richard is dealing with a difficult situation.”
“Because his lies are collapsing?”
Eleanor stared.
“You've become emotional.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“You helped raise Gabriel.”
“Yes.”
“You taught him to forge Alexander's signature.”
Eleanor said nothing.
“You made him believe he was dangerous.”
Eleanor's eyes narrowed.
“I followed instructions.”
Victoria shook her head.
“He was eight years old.”
Eleanor looked away.
For a brief moment, something resembling shame crossed her face.
Then she spoke.
“You don't understand what your father was trying to prevent.”
Victoria stared.
“Then explain it.”
Eleanor hesitated.
“Gabriel was never supposed to remain at Hollowbrook as long as he did.”
Victoria frowned.
“What?”
“The original plan was to transfer him after his tenth birthday.”
“Transfer him where?”
Eleanor looked toward the door.
“To a family-controlled residence overseas.”
Victoria felt cold.
“Why didn't it happen?”
Eleanor hesitated.
“Because someone interfered.”
“Who?”
Eleanor's voice lowered.
“Isabella Santos.”
Victoria stared.
“Isabella found him?”
Eleanor nodded.
“She discovered the academy. She tried to remove him.”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“What happened?”
Eleanor looked down.
“Richard stopped her.”
“How?”
Eleanor gave no answer.
Victoria stepped closer.
“HOW?”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“He threatened Maria and Sofia.”
Victoria went still.
The two girls whose names had appeared in old Sterling files.
The daughters Isabella had been forced to leave behind.
Victoria had always known Richard used information to control people.
But now she was beginning to understand how much suffering lay behind the numbers in his accounts.
“Where is Isabella now?” Victoria whispered.
Eleanor looked at her.
“You know more than you admit.”
Victoria shook her head.
“I know where she was being held. I don't know where Richard moved her.”
Eleanor stared.
“Then perhaps it's time you told Alexander.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“Alexander would rather see me arrested.”
Eleanor nodded.
“He might.”
Victoria lowered her eyes.
She remembered the gala.
Evelyn trembling in her wheelchair.
Maria standing between them.
The slap.
The silence.
Alexander's cold voice ending their engagement.
For the first time, Victoria allowed herself to remember the expression on Evelyn's face.
Fear.
Not embarrassment.
Not confusion.
Fear.
Victoria whispered, “I became the kind of person I used to hate.”
Eleanor said nothing.
Then Victoria looked up.
“I'm going to tell the truth.”
Eleanor's expression changed.
“You can't.”
“Watch me.”
Victoria reached for her phone.
Eleanor stepped forward.
“Victoria, if you contact Alexander, Richard will know.”
Victoria stared.
“Then let him.”
Eleanor's voice became urgent.
“You don't understand. Your father isn't the only person involved.”
Victoria froze.
“What?”
Eleanor looked toward the windows.
“Richard has been answering to someone else for years.”
Victoria felt a chill.
“Who?”
Eleanor shook her head.
“I never met them.”
Victoria stared.
“Then how do you know?”
“Because every time Richard tried to abandon the replacement plan, someone threatened to expose his involvement.”
Victoria slowly lowered the phone.
Her father had always seemed untouchable.
He controlled politicians.
Bankers.
Lawyers.
Entire companies.
But now Eleanor was telling her that even Richard Sterling had been controlled.
Victoria whispered, “What did they want?”
Eleanor looked at her.
“Control of the blue trust.”
Victoria frowned.
“Why?”
“Because the trust contains evidence connected to more than the Vance family.”
Victoria stared.
“How much more?”
Eleanor hesitated.
“Enough to destroy people who have never appeared in any of the records you've seen.”
Victoria looked toward the door.
Then she made a decision.
She dialed Alexander's number.
He answered after several rings.
“Victoria.”
His voice was cold.
She swallowed.
“Alexander, I know you hate me.”
“That's not why you called.”
“No.”
“Then what do you want?”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“To tell you where Gabriel was taken.”
Alexander went still.
“Where?”
Victoria looked toward Eleanor.
The doctor nodded reluctantly.
Victoria took a breath.
“Richard moved him to a private residence near the Hudson. I can give Detective Bennett the address.”
Alexander's voice sharpened.
“Why are you helping us?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Because I finally understand what my father did to that boy.”
Alexander remained silent.
Victoria continued.
“And because there's something else you need to know.”
“What?”
“Richard didn't create the replacement plan.”
Alexander froze.
“Who did?”
Victoria looked toward Eleanor.
The doctor shook her head.
But Victoria had already decided.
“THE PERSON WHO ORDERED GABRIEL TO BE TRAINED WAS SOMEONE YOUR FATHER TRUSTED COMPLETELY.”
Alexander's blood ran cold.
“WHO?”
Victoria opened her mouth.
Then the office door slammed.
A man's voice sounded behind her.
“PUT THE PHONE DOWN, VICTORIA.”
She turned.
Richard Sterling stood in the doorway.
His expression was terrifyingly calm.
Victoria whispered:
“DAD?”
Richard looked directly at the phone.
Then said:
“ALEXANDER, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO ORDERED YOUR REPLACEMENT, ASK YOUR MOTHER WHAT SHE SIGNED THE NIGHT THOMAS DISAPPEARED.”
The call ended.
TO BE CONTINUED…
