CHAPTER 9: The Secret Victoria Swore to Take to Her Grave
The room fell into complete silence.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Because everyone was staring at the same thing.
The handwritten note on Maya’s birth certificate.
“The child was not born from Lily Collins.”
Arthur looked at Lily.
Then at Victoria.
Then back at Richard Sterling.
His mind raced.
Another secret.
Another lie.
Another piece of the puzzle that didn’t make sense.
“What does this mean?”
His voice was controlled.
But everyone could hear the anger underneath.
Richard smiled.
“That is the question you should ask Victoria.”
All eyes turned toward her.
Victoria stood frozen.
For the first time in her life…
She had nothing to say.
“Victoria.”
Arthur’s voice was quieter now.
Which made it even more dangerous.
“Explain.”
Victoria looked at Maya.
The little girl stood beside Lily, confused and frightened.
She had no idea why powerful adults were discussing her life like she was a business deal.
And that broke something inside Victoria.
Because twenty years ago…
She had watched the same thing happen to Lily.
A child’s future being decided by people with money.
“I…”
Victoria struggled.
“I didn’t want anyone to know.”
Arthur stared at her.
“Know what?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“The truth about Maya’s birth.”
Richard walked around the room slowly.
Enjoying every second.
“You see, Arthur…”
He smiled.
“Your wife has always been very good at hiding things.”
Arthur ignored him.
His eyes stayed on Victoria.
“Tell me.”
Victoria looked at Maya.
Then Lily.
Then finally Arthur.
“The note is true.”
Lily’s face changed.
“What?”
Victoria whispered:
“Maya was not born from Lily.”
The words felt like a knife.
Lily stepped back.
“No…”
Her voice shook.
“No, that’s impossible.”
Victoria looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“All these years…”
She looked at Maya.
“I raised her.”
Victoria nodded.
“You did.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Victoria took a deep breath.
“Maya was born from me.”
The room exploded into silence.
Arthur stared.
Lily couldn’t breathe.
Maya looked confused.
“From you?”
Arthur repeated.
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.”
A tear rolled down her face.
“Maya is my daughter.”
For several seconds…
Nobody reacted.
Because the truth was too impossible.
The woman who had treated Maya like a stranger…
Was actually her biological mother.
The woman who had hurt her…
Was the person who gave her life.
Arthur stepped back.
“No.”
His voice was filled with disbelief.
“You’re telling me…”
He looked at Maya.
“You knew?”
Victoria nodded.
“Yes.”
“And you allowed her to grow up believing she was just a servant’s daughter?”
Victoria lowered her eyes.
“I thought it was the only way to protect her.”
Arthur’s anger returned.
“Protect her?”
His voice echoed.
“You abandoned your own child!”
Victoria flinched.
Because she knew he was right.
Twenty years earlier…
Victoria Sterling was nineteen.
Young.
Afraid.
Controlled by her powerful father.
When she discovered she was pregnant, Richard Sterling saw the child as a threat.
A threat to the family image.
A threat to Victoria’s arranged future.
A threat to their empire.
But Victoria refused to give up her baby.
Until Daniel Sterling entered her life.
Daniel was the only person who stood against Richard.
He wanted to help Victoria escape.
He wanted to protect the child.
But Richard discovered everything.
And he created a plan.
A plan to erase both children.
Victoria’s daughter…
And Daniel’s unborn child.
Victoria continued.
“When Maya was born, my father told me he would take her away.”
Arthur listened.
“He said if I fought him, Daniel would die.”
Lily covered her mouth.
Arthur looked shocked.
“You’re saying Richard threatened Daniel?”
Victoria nodded.
“He knew Daniel was trying to expose him.”
A pause.
“So Richard gave me a choice.”
“What choice?”
Victoria’s voice broke.
“Give up my daughter…”
“Or lose Daniel.”
The room became silent.
“And I chose…”
She couldn’t finish.
Arthur understood.
“You chose Maya.”
Victoria nodded.
“But I still lost everything.”
Lily stepped forward.
“You gave her to me.”
Victoria looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you were the only person I trusted.”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“You let me raise your daughter.”
Victoria nodded.
“And I watched from a distance.”
Arthur looked confused.
“You knew Lily was raising Maya?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell her?”
Victoria looked away.
“Because every time I got close…”
She swallowed.
“My father reminded me what would happen if the truth came out.”
Richard suddenly laughed.
Everyone looked at him.
“You all want to blame me.”
He adjusted his suit.
“But let’s remember something.”
He pointed at Victoria.
“She agreed.”
Victoria’s face hardened.
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“I was weak.”
A pause.
“But you were evil.”
Richard smiled.
“Careful.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“You stole my daughter.”
“You destroyed Daniel.”
“You ruined Lily’s life.”
Her voice became stronger.
“And now you think you can still control me?”
For the first time…
Richard looked surprised.
Because Victoria was no longer afraid.
Arthur looked at Maya.
The little girl was silently crying.
“Mom…”
Lily immediately knelt beside her.
“I’m here.”
Maya looked between Lily and Victoria.
“Is she my real mother?”
The question destroyed everyone.
Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
Maya looked down.
“Then why did she hate me?”
Victoria froze.
Because there was no answer.
Not one that could fix twenty years of pain.
“I never hated you.”
Maya looked up.
“Then why did you hurt me?”
Victoria couldn’t speak.
Because the truth was simple.
She had spent twenty years blaming the world for hurting her…
And became someone who hurt others.
Arthur stepped forward.
“Richard.”
The older man looked at him.
“This ends now.”
Richard smiled.
“You think you can defeat me?”
Arthur held up the birth certificate.
“No.”
A pause.
“I think Maya can.”
Richard’s smile disappeared.
Because he understood.
The child he erased…
Was now the person who could destroy him.
But before anyone could leave…
Daniel rushed into the room.
“Mr. Blackwell!”
Everyone turned.
“What happened?”
Daniel looked at Arthur.
“There’s a problem.”
“What?”
“The media received documents.”
Arthur frowned.
“What documents?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Documents claiming Maya is not Victoria’s daughter.”
A silence.
Richard smiled.
“But that’s not all.”
Arthur looked at him.
Richard stepped closer.
“The documents also claim…”
He looked at Maya.
“That Victoria was never her mother.”
Everyone froze.
Victoria’s face went pale.
“What are you talking about?”
Richard smiled.
“The real truth is much worse.”
Because the Sterling family had one final secret.
A secret even Victoria didn’t know.
And if Richard revealed it…
May you like
The entire Blackwell family would fall apart.
TO BE CONTINUED…
