Chapter 7 – THE SON WHO SIGNED HIS MOTHER AWAY
Richard stood in his office holding the documents Samuel had sent him.
He had signed some of them.
He recognized his handwriting.
One agreement granted Victoria broad authority to manage several family subsidiaries.
Another acknowledged that Eleanor’s property had been placed under temporary corporate administration.
And one affidavit stated that Richard had received official confirmation of his mother’s death.
He had signed that document too.
“YOU MADE ME SIGN THESE!”
Richard slammed the folder onto Victoria’s desk.
She didn’t flinch.
“You signed them because you trusted me.”
“You told me my mother was dead!”
“Your mother was destroying the business!”
Richard stared at her.
For twenty-seven years, Victoria had told him Eleanor had become unstable after Grace vanished.
She claimed the older woman had hidden company money and tried to ruin the family.
Richard had believed every word.
He had been young, grieving and desperate to protect what remained of the business.
Now he realized that believing Victoria had cost him his mother and sister.
Then Eleanor entered with Grace.
Richard turned.
His eyes widened.
“Grace?”
The woman looked at him without smiling.
“You watched them take me away.”
Richard shook his head.
“No. I was told you were going to a hospital.”
Grace stepped closer.
“I was seven, Richard. I was screaming your name.”
Richard’s legs weakened.
He remembered.
The black car.
The crying child.
Victoria standing beside the driver.
And himself turning away because Victoria had promised that the little girl would be safe.
“I didn’t know,” he whispered.
Grace’s voice cracked.
“You didn’t ask.”
Victoria suddenly reached for a drawer.
Sophie grabbed her wrist.
Inside the drawer was a small USB drive marked 1999 — PRIVATE.
Samuel examined the files on his laptop.
One contained a previously unseen video recording.
The image was grainy.
But it showed Victoria entering Eleanor’s bedroom on the night of the fire.
She was carrying a metal canister.
And she was not alone.
The man with Victoria in the recording was Charles Mercer.