Chapter 11 - Claire Finally Calls Her Daughter
At 2:17 in the morning, Victoria’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?”
A woman breathed on the other end.
Then:
“Vicky?”
Nobody had called her that since childhood.
Victoria’s knees gave way.
Andrew caught her elbow.
“Mom?”
Claire began crying.
Victoria did too.
Twenty-two missing years collapsed into one word.
Claire explained she had lived under another name after William
threatened to destroy Victoria’s future and have Claire prosecuted for
financial crimes he committed.
She tried returning twice.
Evelyn stopped her both times, claiming Victoria had built a stable life
and hated her.
Claire believed it.
Until six months earlier, when she learned Evelyn was still receiving
money tied to William’s estate.
That was when she contacted Andrew indirectly.
Victoria asked the question that hurt most.
“Why didn’t you call me yourself?”
May you like
Claire whispered:
“Because after twenty-two years, I was afraid you’d hang up.”
