Chapter 6 - THE WOMAN WHO WANTED MY LIFE
Victoria Hail had been part of my marriage before it began.
She introduced me to Adrien.
Recommended his companies to my family's advisers.
Attended our engagement party.
Even helped select flowers for our wedding.
For years, I'd considered her a family friend.
Then she became my husband's mistress.
Now I was discovering she had also helped conceal my brother's survival.
I sat across from Vivian in her office.
"We need to understand what Victoria wanted."
Vivian opened a file.
"Her father controlled several Carter trust accounts before Thomas disappeared."
I nodded.
"And?"
"After Thomas vanished, Harrison attempted to obtain additional authority over the trust."
My stomach tightened.
"Did he succeed?"
"Partially. But your grandfather changed the governance documents."
I leaned forward.
"What changed?"
Vivian turned the page.
"Independent approval became necessary for major transactions."
I stared.
"Mine."
She nodded.
"You became the designated managing representative when your grandfather died."
I closed my eyes.
That explained everything.
The marriage.
The investments.
The forged authorization.
Victoria's sudden interest in taking over my work.
I wasn't simply Adrien's wife.
I was the person whose signature prevented certain valuable assets from being moved without review.
And Victoria wanted that control.
Then Vivian showed me a photograph.
Victoria stood beside a man in a dark suit.
I recognized him immediately.
Marco.
Adrien's security chief.
The man who'd spent the past week searching for me.
I frowned.
"What is this?"
"Security footage from a private office building."
"When?"
"Two days before the party."
My stomach tightened.
"What were they doing?"
"We don't know yet."
Then Vivian placed another document before me.
A corporate authorization.
My name appeared at the bottom.
Once again, the signature was forged.
But this document was different.
It attempted to authorize the transfer of Carter trust assets into a new investment company.
A company controlled by Harrison Hail.
I stared.
"How much?"
Vivian took a breath.
"Potentially more than two hundred million dollars."
I covered my mouth.
Two hundred million.
My grandfather's life's work.
The assets meant to support our family for generations.
Someone was trying to move them through the same companies I'd spent six years building.
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice spoke.
"Elena Moretti?"
"Who's calling?"
"This is Dr. Catherine Monroe. I treated your brother."
My heart tightened.
"Thomas?"
"Yes."
She hesitated.
"There's something you need to know about the night he arrived at our facility."
I gripped the phone.
"What?"
"He wasn't brought in by Harrison Hail."
I went still.
"Then who?"
Dr. Monroe took a breath.
"A woman."
My pulse quickened.
"Victoria?"
"Yes."
Then the doctor revealed something even worse.
"Victoria told us you had authorized Thomas's treatment."
I stared.
"That's impossible."
"I understand."
"Why would she say that?"
May you like
Dr. Monroe's voice softened.
"Because she claimed you were the person he needed protection from."
