CHAPTER 3:THE SECRET VICTORIA HID FOR YEARS
I stared at my wife.
Waiting.
Waiting for her to deny it.
To laugh.
To call Emily crazy.
Anything.
But Victoria said nothing.
And silence was the answer I feared most.
“Victoria.”
My voice was shaking now.
“Tell me she’s lying.”
She placed the wine glass on the table.
Carefully.
Almost peacefully.
“You always were too emotional, Ethan.”
That sentence hurt more than anything.
Because it wasn’t a denial.
I took a step back.
“Who are you?”
Victoria looked at me.
And smiled.
A cold, empty smile.
“You really want to know?”
Emily whispered:
“Ethan…”
“Don’t let her control the conversation.”
Victoria’s eyes snapped toward her.
“Still trying to play the hero?”
Then she looked back at me.
“Fine.”
She walked toward the window.
“You want the truth?”
She took a deep breath.
“I was never supposed to be your wife.”
My eyebrows tightened.
“What does that mean?”
She turned around.
“It means your family was never as perfect as you thought.”
I felt my chest tighten.
“Explain.”
Victoria looked at the twins.
“They were the reason I married you.”
The words hit me like a punch.
I couldn’t move.
“What?”
She continued.
“You had everything.”
Money.
Power.
A respected family name.
But you were missing one thing.”
She looked at my children.
“An heir.”
My hands curled into fists.
“You married me for my children?”
Victoria shrugged.
“At first.”
The honesty was terrifying.
“Then I convinced myself I loved you.”
I stared at her.
“Convinced?”
She looked away.
“That’s the problem with love.”
“It makes people weak.”
Emily interrupted.
“She never loved you.”
Victoria glared at her.
“She was always jealous.”
Emily shook her head.
“No.”
Her voice became stronger.
“She was afraid.”
I looked at Emily.
“Afraid of what?”
Emily hesitated.
Then reached into her pocket.
And pulled out a small envelope.
My heart stopped.
“I found this hidden in Victoria’s office.”
Victoria’s face changed.
For the first time…
Real fear appeared.
“Don’t.”
Emily opened the envelope.
Inside were documents.
Legal documents.
My name was written across the top.
I grabbed them.
And read.
The first line made my hands shake.
Temporary custody transfer agreement.
My stomach dropped.
Victoria had prepared documents.
Documents that would allow her to take full control of my children.
“Why?”
My voice broke.
“Why would you do this?”
Victoria stared at me.
Then said:
“Because you were going to leave me.”
I froze.
“What?”
She laughed bitterly.
“You think I didn’t know?”
“You were going to divorce me.”
I didn’t answer.
Because it was true.
I had been planning to.
After months of distance.
After months of feeling like I was married to a stranger.
Victoria knew.
And she was preparing.
May you like
But not to save our marriage.
To destroy me.
