Chapter 5 - THE TRUTH ABOUT VICTORIA
The next morning, Marcus canceled every meeting.
For the first time in years, money didn't matter.
His company could wait.
His family couldn't.
Pia sat across from him in the study.
Ben was downstairs with Maria.
Marcus placed the wooden box on the desk.
“Start from the beginning.”
Pia nodded.
“Victoria contacted my mother about six months before the accident.”
“Why?”
“She believed someone was accessing financial records.”
“From my company?”
“Yes.”
“Did she know who?”
“She suspected your CFO.”
Marcus shook his head.
“David has worked for me for twelve years.”
“So had people Victoria trusted.”
Marcus leaned back.
“What did my wife tell your mother?”
“That she was scared.”
“Of David?”
“Of everyone.”
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Why didn't she tell me?”
Pia looked directly at him.
“Because she tried.”
Marcus went silent.
“She said you wouldn't listen.”
The words cut deeply.
“She said you were working sixteen-hour days. She said you were angry all the time. She said every conversation became an argument.”
Marcus looked down.
“I was trying to provide.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't.”
“I do.”
Pia's voice softened.
“She loved you.”
Marcus looked up.
“She talked about you constantly.”
“Then why was she planning to leave?”
“She wasn't.”
Marcus froze.
“What?”
“She was planning to take Ben somewhere safe.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed someone was trying to hurt him.”
Marcus's heart tightened.
“Who?”
Pia shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“You must know something.”
“My mother knows more than I do.”
“Then we'll ask her.”
Pia looked uncomfortable.
“She won't talk.”
“Why?”
“Because she's dying.”
Marcus went silent.
“How long?”
“She doesn't have much time.”
Pia's eyes filled.
“That's why I took this job.”
Marcus stared at her.
“What does your mother have to do with this?”
“She wanted me close to Ben.”
“Why?”
“Because she promised Victoria.”
Marcus stood.
“You've been using my family.”
“No.”
“You lied on your application.”
“I left out information.”
“That's lying.”
“I didn't take this job for money.”
“Then why?”
Pia's voice broke.
“Because my mother believed Ben was in danger.”
Marcus stared at her.
Then Ben walked into the room.
“Daddy?”
Marcus immediately softened.
“Come here.”
Ben approached cautiously.
Marcus knelt.
“Do you know Pia?”
Ben nodded.
“She takes care of me.”
“Do you trust her?”
Ben looked at Pia.
Then at Marcus.
“Yes.”
Marcus felt something shift inside him.
He stood.
“Pia, I need one more answer.”
“What?”
“Why did Victoria leave that note telling me to trust you?”
Pia reached into her bag.
She pulled out a folded letter.
“Because she wrote this for me.”
Marcus took it.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakably Victoria's.
Pia,
If Marcus ever learns the truth, he will probably blame himself. Please don't let him.
He isn't a bad man. He's a broken man.
And broken people sometimes push away the people they love most.
Marcus stopped reading.
Tears filled his eyes.
If anything happens to me, protect Ben.
And if Marcus finally chooses his son over his pride, help him find his way back.
Marcus couldn't continue.
He folded the letter.
Pia quietly said:
“She loved you.”
Marcus wiped his face.
“I don't deserve her.”
“Maybe not.”
He looked at her.
“But Ben deserves you.”
That sentence destroyed him.
Marcus sat down.
For the first time since Victoria's funeral, he allowed himself to cry.
Not privately.
Not behind a locked office door.
In front of another person.
Pia didn't comfort him.
She simply stayed.
After several minutes, Marcus's phone rang.
Tom.
“What?”
“We traced the three million.”
“Where?”
“An offshore account.”
“Whose?”
“We're not sure.”
“Then find out.”
“There’s more.”
Marcus's expression hardened.
“What?”
“The account was opened three weeks before Victoria died.”
“By whom?”
Tom hesitated.
“Marcus…”
“Who?”
“Your mother.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
Then Tom added:
“There's another name attached to it.”
“Whose?”
“David Carter.”
Marcus's CFO.
The same man Victoria had suspected.
Marcus immediately called David.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
He stood.
“Pia, stay with Ben.”
“Where are you going?”
“To my mother's house.”
“You shouldn't go alone.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because if she knows you're investigating, she'll know you've found the money.”
Marcus grabbed his keys.
“You think she'd hurt me?”
Pia looked at him.
“No.”
She paused.
“I think she'd hurt anyone standing between her and what she wants.”
Marcus left.
His mother's mansion was only twenty minutes away.
When he arrived, the front door was open.
“Mom?”
No answer.
He entered.
The house was immaculate.
Too immaculate.
Then he heard a noise upstairs.
He ran.
Evelyn stood in her bedroom, holding a suitcase.
Marcus stopped.
“What are you doing?”
She looked at him.
Her face was calm.
“You finally found out.”
Marcus felt cold.
“Found out what?”
“That Victoria wasn't the only person who knew.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“What did you do?”
Evelyn smiled sadly.
“I protected this family.”
“You murdered my wife?”
“No.”
“Then tell me what happened.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Your wife discovered the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That your father didn't die of a heart attack.”
Marcus froze.
“My father?”
“He was murdered.”
Marcus stared at her.
“By whom?”
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“By the same people who killed Victoria.”
Marcus whispered:
“Who?”
Before Evelyn could answer, a gunshot echoed from downstairs.
Evelyn's face went white.
May you like
Marcus turned.
Someone had just entered the house.
