Chapter 10 - victoria makes one mistake
Victoria sat again.
Her lawyer whispered for her to leave.
She ignored him.
"What recordings?"
Arthur said nothing.
"Arthur."
He watched her.
Victoria looked toward Daniel.
Then toward the closed office door.
Her attorney leaned close.
"We should go."
Victoria snapped.
"Stop talking."
That was the mistake.
She was losing control.
Arthur had seen it in the foyer.
Now he saw it again.
"You used Lily to create evidence against me."
Victoria laughed.
"No one would believe that."
"They don't need to believe me."
Arthur leaned back.
"They can listen to you."
Victoria's expression changed.
Arthur continued.
"You told her if she said I forgot things, I wouldn't be taken away."
Victoria looked at her attorney.
That look was enough.
Arthur pressed.
"Whose idea was it?"
Silence.
"Harold's?"
Victoria's jaw clenched.
"Harold is an old man."
"An old man who owns the house."
Victoria stared.
Arthur knew.
"Green shutters."
Her face went blank.
Arthur had her.
"You thought I didn't know."
Victoria stood again.
"You're bluffing."
Arthur smiled slightly.
"You keep saying that to yourself."
She walked toward the door.
Arthur spoke without raising his voice.
"Thomas is talking too."
That was not entirely true.
Thomas Lawson had been detained for questioning, but he had not cooperated.
Victoria did not know that.
She turned so fast her chair tipped.
"My father wouldn't talk."
Arthur said nothing.
Her attorney closed his eyes.
Victoria realized what she had admitted.
Arthur watched the color drain from her face.
"You told me he was dead."
She stared at him.
"Arthur."
"You built our marriage on a lie before we even had one."
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
Victoria's breathing became faster.
For a moment, Arthur thought she might confess.
Instead she pointed at him.
"Harold chose you because you were weak."
Arthur frowned.
Victoria laughed.
"All those billions and you still needed someone to tell you your family loved you."
Arthur felt the insult but did not react.
"You think Harold wanted your company because of money?"
"What did he want?"
"Revenge."
Arthur watched her.
Victoria continued before her lawyer could stop her.
"Your father promised Harold half. Then he gave control to you."
Arthur knew that family history.
His father and Harold had fought for years.
But his father had ultimately retained majority control because Harold repeatedly took reckless loans against company assets.
Victoria kept talking.
"You inherited everything."
"Not everything."
"Enough."
Arthur leaned forward.
"So Harold decided to steal it."
"He decided to take back what belonged to him."
Arthur's voice cooled.
"And Claire?"
Victoria stopped.
The room changed.
Arthur asked again.
"What happened to Claire?"
Victoria looked at him.
Her face became almost expressionless.
"She got sick."
"You were in her bathroom."
"Prove it."
"We have video."
That landed.
Victoria's eyes flickered.
Arthur whispered.
"What did you give her?"
Her lawyer stood.
"This interview is over."
Arthur looked only at Victoria.
"What did you give my wife?"
Victoria's composure shattered.
"I didn't kill Claire."
Silence.
Her lawyer stared at her.
Arthur did not move.
No one had accused her of killing Claire in that room.
Victoria realized it.
Too late.
Arthur's voice became very quiet.
"What did you do?"
Victoria looked toward the door.
Then at her attorney.
Then back at Arthur.
"Nothing."
Arthur stood.
"You just told me enough."
Victoria's lawyer pulled her toward the exit.
Before leaving, Victoria turned.
"You think Lily loves you?"
Arthur froze.
Victoria smiled cruelly.
"Ask her what she saw the night Claire died."
Then she left.
Arthur remained motionless.
Daniel closed the door.
"Don't let that manipulate you."
Arthur looked at him.
"What did Lily see?"
"She was three."
"What did she see?"
"We don't know."
Arthur drove home immediately.
He did not question Lily.
Dr. Park had warned him against interrogating memories.
Instead he sat with her during dinner.
Lily ate macaroni and cheese.
Arthur barely touched his food.
Afterward, Lily brought out a box of crayons.
She drew at the kitchen table.
Arthur watched.
A house.
Three people.
A woman with auburn hair.
A tall man.
A small girl.
Then Lily drew a fourth person outside a window.
Blonde hair.
Red dress.
Arthur's throat tightened.
"Who's that?"
Lily looked at the drawing.
"Victoria."
Arthur stared.
"Was she here when Mommy was alive?"
Lily nodded as though the answer were obvious.
"She came at night."
Arthur could barely breathe.
"When?"
May you like
Lily colored the window.
"The night Mommy went away."
