Chapter 8 - Evelyn's Letter Changed The Motive
Victoria had believed she was finished discovering secrets.
She was wrong.
Andrew unlocked the fireproof cabinet inside his study.
The empty space where Evelyn’s letter had been was unmistakable.
Victoria stood beside him.
“When did she write it?”
“Four days before her stroke.”
“And she gave it to you?”
“She mailed it to my office.”
“Why?”
Andrew looked toward the open study door, making sure Lily wasn’t nearby.
“Because she was worried about Caroline.”
Victoria laughed once, without humor.
“My mother adored Caroline.”
“I thought so too.”
“What did the letter say?”
Andrew sat heavily behind his desk.
“She said Caroline had been asking about your trust.”
Victoria frowned.
Her mother had created separate trusts for both daughters years earlier.
Caroline’s had been smaller because Evelyn inherited most of her wealth from Victoria’s father, not Caroline’s.
It was an uncomfortable family fact nobody discussed.
Andrew continued.
“Evelyn said Caroline had significant debt.”
Caroline, standing under Marcus’s supervision near the doorway, snapped, “That’s a lie.”
Andrew looked at her.
“Your mother wrote it.”
“She misunderstood.”
Victoria turned.
“How much debt?”
Caroline’s silence answered before her words did.
“I had some business losses.”
“How much?”
“Victoria—”
“How much?”
“About nine hundred thousand.”
Victoria stared.
Caroline had never mentioned it.
Her lifestyle gave no hint of financial trouble.
Designer clothes.
A Georgetown apartment.
Frequent trips.
Charity boards.
Andrew continued.
“Evelyn believed Caroline had borrowed against assets she didn’t own.”
Caroline’s voice sharpened.
“I was going to repay everything.”
Victoria felt dizzy.
“What does that have to do with my trust?”
Andrew hesitated.
“The terms change if you die.”
The room became silent.
Victoria looked at him.
“What?”
“Your share goes primarily to Lily.”
“I know that.”
“If Lily is a minor, the trustee controls distributions.”
Victoria already knew who Evelyn had named.
Andrew.
But Andrew shook his head.
“Evelyn amended it.”
“When?”
“Shortly before she died.”
Victoria stared.
“Who became trustee?”
Andrew looked toward Caroline.
Victoria understood before he spoke.
“Caroline.”
Her sister’s face collapsed.
“No.”
Andrew continued.
“Evelyn regretted it. That was why she wrote me.”
Victoria’s knees weakened.
The arrangement was suddenly horrifying.
If Victoria died, Lily inherited.
If Andrew became legally unfit or lost custody, Caroline—depending on the amendment’s exact terms—could potentially control Lily’s trust.
Millions of dollars.
Caroline shook her head.
“I never knew she changed it.”
Andrew’s expression hardened.
“The amendment was processed through her attorney.”
“I didn’t know.”
Victoria watched her.
For the first time, Caroline looked less like a mastermind than someone trapped inside circumstances that looked terrible.
That bothered Victoria.
Because the night had taught her one thing.
Obvious evidence could be manufactured.
The key card.
The silver dress.
The photograph.
Even Andrew’s voice.
Victoria forced herself to slow down.
“Andrew, did you see the original amendment?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Evelyn told me in the letter.”
“And now the letter is missing.”
“Yes.”
Victoria looked at Marcus.
“Who accessed the study tonight?”
“We’re checking.”
“Check everyone.”
Caroline gave a bitter laugh.
“Finally.”
Victoria looked at her.
“You lied to a psychologist.”
“I did.”
“You told Lily Grandma was sending messages.”
Caroline lowered her eyes.
“I showed her old videos. I said sometimes people we love can still guide us.”
“That isn’t what Lily described.”
“No.”
“Did you make fake recordings?”
Caroline hesitated.
“I made one.”
Andrew stepped forward.
Victoria held up a hand.
“What did it say?”
Caroline began crying.
“That Evelyn loved her. That she should be brave.”
Victoria felt sick.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because Lily kept asking to hear Grandma’s voice.”
“That doesn’t give you the right.”
“I know.”
The admission sounded real.
But Victoria needed facts, not impressions.
“Did you make the recording telling her Andrew would send her away?”
“No.”
“Did you put the speaker upstairs?”
“No.”
“Did you steal Andrew’s phone?”
“No.”
“Did you attack Elena?”
“No.”
“Did you take Mom’s letter?”
“No.”
Four denials.
One admitted deception.
Victoria couldn’t decide what to believe.
Then Marcus entered from the security room carrying a tablet.
“We found who entered the study.”
Everyone looked at him.
“The hallway camera captured someone using Andrew’s key card at 7:18.”
“Who?” Andrew asked.
Marcus turned the screen around.
The image was grainy but clear enough.
A woman in a silver, sleeveless evening dress stood outside the study.
Victoria recognized her immediately.
So did Andrew.
It wasn’t Caroline.
It was Natalie Pierce.
May you like
Andrew’s executive assistant.
And Natalie was nowhere in the mansion.
