Chapter 19 - THE TRUTH VICTORIA BURIED
Victoria agreed to speak after prosecutors played part of Elizabeth's cassette for her.
Ethan attended the interview behind one-way glass.
He did not want Victoria to see him.
Not yet.
She sat at a metal table.
No wedding dress.
No diamonds.
No carefully arranged hair.
She looked smaller.
But Ethan reminded himself that fragile appearances had fooled him before.
The prosecutor placed a photograph on the table.
Elizabeth's damaged car.
“Were you there?”
Victoria stared at it.
“No.”
The prosecutor played the recording.
Elizabeth's voice came through first.
Then Graham's.
Then a third voice.
Young.
Female.
Victoria.
You can't let her ruin everything, Dad.
Victoria closed her eyes.
The prosecutor stopped the audio.
“You were nineteen.”
“Yes.”
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
Ethan felt cold.
Victoria continued.
“I didn't know what he planned.”
“What did you think would happen?”
“He said we would scare Elizabeth.”
“How?”
“I don't know.”
“Were you in Graham's car?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see Cross Security's vehicle?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see it strike Elizabeth Pierce's car?”
Victoria began crying.
“Yes.”
Ethan looked away.
The prosecutor continued.
“Did Graham report the collision?”
“No.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I was afraid.”
The word sounded obscene after everything she had done to Olivia.
“What happened after the crash?”
Victoria covered her face.
“My father got out.”
“And?”
“He checked Elizabeth's car.”
“Was she alive?”
Victoria nodded.
Ethan's entire body stiffened.
The prosecutor leaned forward.
“Did Graham call an ambulance?”
“No.”
“What did he do?”
Victoria's voice became almost inaudible.
“He took her briefcase.”
Ethan shut his eyes.
His mother had still been alive.
Graham could have called for help.
He chose evidence instead.
Victoria had watched.
“And you said nothing for twenty-six years.”
The prosecutor continued.
“No.”
“Then twelve years ago, Ethan began dating Olivia Bennett.”
Victoria nodded.
“You believed Olivia could expose your family's connection to Elizabeth's death?”
“No.”
“Then why target her?”
Victoria lowered her hands.
“Because Ethan loved her.”
The simplicity was horrifying.
“I had spent years believing Ethan and I would eventually marry.”
“Did Ethan know that?”
“No.”
“So he had never promised you anything.”
“No.”
“But you decided Olivia was in the way.”
Victoria stared at the table.
“Yes.”
“You approached Robert Pierce.”
“Yes.”
“You used the knowledge of his financial crimes.”
“Yes.”
“You helped create the false medical debt threat.”
“Yes.”
“You paid Olivia to disappear.”
“Yes.”
“You intercepted letters.”
“Yes.”
“You arranged surveillance.”
Victoria hesitated.
“Yes.”
“You attempted to establish guardianship over Lucy.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Victoria began crying again.
“Because Olivia was dying.”
“That isn't an answer.”
Victoria looked up.
“I thought if Lucy came into our life through me, Ethan would need me.”
Behind the glass, Ethan felt something inside him finally become still.
For days he had wanted an explanation.
Something complicated.
Something that would make the nightmare understandable.
There wasn't one.
Victoria had wanted him.
So she destroyed anyone she believed stood between them.
The prosecutor asked about Dana.
Victoria admitted authorizing surveillance but denied ordering the hospital poisoning or cabin fire.
Dana later contradicted her.
She provided messages.
Payment records.
Voice notes.
One audio clip contained Victoria's voice.
Olivia cannot wake up and testify.
Another.
Find the girl before Ethan moves her.
That was enough.
Hours later, Ethan was permitted a brief meeting with Victoria.
Mason advised against it.
Ethan insisted.
They sat across from each other.
Victoria stared at him.
“I loved you.”
Ethan felt nothing.
“No.”
Her face tightened.
“You don't get to tell me what I felt.”
“I know exactly what you felt.”
“What?”
“Ownership.”
Victoria flinched.
Ethan continued.
“You loved the life you thought I would give you.”
“That isn't true.”
“You didn't care if I was happy.”
“I could have made you happy.”
“You stole eleven years of my daughter's life.”
Victoria began crying.
“I didn't know it would go this far.”
“You signed every check.”
“I was trying to contain it.”
“You watched my mother die.”
Victoria's face collapsed.
“I was nineteen.”
“You were thirty when you threatened Olivia.”
Silence.
“Thirty-three when you watched Lucy's school.”
Silence.
“Thirty-five when you tried to become her guardian.”
Victoria lowered her eyes.
Ethan stood.
“We are finished.”
She looked up.
“Ethan.”
He stopped at the door.
“If you had told the truth at nineteen, maybe I could have understood fear.”
His voice remained calm.
“But you spent the next sixteen years becoming your father.”
Then he left.
Outside, Mason waited.
“Graham has been charged.”
“With?”
“Conspiracy, obstruction, witness intimidation, financial crimes.”
“And my mother's death?”
“Prosecutors are preparing a homicide case.”
Ethan nodded.
“Victoria?”
“Multiple charges.”
“Dana?”
“Cooperating.”
Ethan looked through the courthouse windows at the evening sky.
“Robert?”
“Likely charged for fraud and obstruction.”
Ethan closed his eyes briefly.
His father would face consequences too.
He deserved to.
Mason touched his shoulder.
“You should go back to the hospital.”
Ethan nodded.
When he entered Olivia's room, Lucy was asleep in a chair.
Olivia was awake.
“Is it done?”
Ethan sat beside her.
“They're going to answer for it.”
She studied him.
“And your father?”
“Him too.”
Olivia nodded.
“I am sorry.”
“Don't be.”
Ethan looked at Lucy.
“She needs something better than all of us hiding ugly things to protect each other.”
Olivia smiled faintly.
“Your mother would like that.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You never met her.”
“No.”
Olivia closed her eyes.
“But after hearing that letter, I think I know where Lucy got her courage.”
May you like
Ethan reached for her hand.
“So do I.”
