Chapter 19 - The Truth Victoria Finally Told
Victoria agreed to speak only if August came to the federal detention center.
Caroline told him to go.
"Not for her," she said. "For you."
Victoria sat behind thick glass in a gray jail uniform.
August picked up the phone.
"Why Caroline?"
Victoria stared at him.
"Because she found everything."
"You could have confessed."
"I had spent thirty years surviving what I helped build."
"By destroying my daughter?"
"I told Marcus to scare her."
"You sent fake medicine."
"I sent the package. Marcus changed the pills."
"Did you know?"
"Not until later."
August believed maybe half of that.
"Richard?"
Victoria looked down.
"He was violent. He controlled me. Peter controlled him. Marcus cleaned up the money. By the time I met you, I thought I could leave that world behind."
"You married into the same company."
"I married the one man who treated me like I wasn't property."
"You could have chosen differently."
"I know."
"Caroline came to the gate."
Victoria's eyes filled.
"I was terrified Peter would find her."
"So you threatened her child?"
"I thought fear would keep her away."
"It did."
She nodded.
"For five years."
August leaned closer to the glass.
"You stole five years from me. Seven from Elsie. Eight from Caroline."
Victoria closed her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"No. You're caught."
He hung up.
Outside, Caroline waited in the car.
"Did it help?" she asked.
"No."
"Good."
Then she handed him a document.
"What is this?"
"Grandfather's second will."
Nora had authenticated it.
The voting shares Henry placed in trust had now activated because the fraud was proven.
Under the terms, control passed to Caroline and her descendants.
August read the final clause.
"You own the controlling block."
Caroline shook her head.
"We do."
"No."
"You."
"You're giving up control?"
"I'm returning what was stolen."
His phone buzzed.
Federal prosecutors had filed charges against Victoria, Peter, and Judge Harlan.
Caroline looked at the courthouse across the street.
"Then there's one thing left."
"What?"
She smiled.
"We go home and tell Elsie the whole truth."
May you like
August nodded.
But when they reached the estate, Elsie was gone.
