Chapter 7: The Billionaire's Secret Wife
For several seconds, Victoria couldn't understand what Daniel had just said.
Outside the cottage, the Atlantic wind rattled the windows. Somewhere in the distance, a siren wailed and disappeared.
But inside, nobody moved.
"She's your what?"" Victoria finally whispered.
Daniel's laughter came through the door.
"My wife, Victoria. Veronica Hale. Your precious missing twin sister.""
Richard grabbed the wheelchair arms.
"Daniel, don't.""
"Why not, Father? Haven't you lied enough?""
Daniel stepped closer to the cottage.
"Go ahead, old man. Tell her about the marriage certificate.""
Victoria turned toward Richard.
"What marriage certificate?""
Richard's lips trembled.
"He's lying.""
"Then show me.""
Richard lowered his eyes.
That was all the answer Victoria needed.
Elena moved toward the wooden box.
"There's something else in here.""
She pulled out a thick folder marked CONFIDENTIAL — FAMILY TRUST.
Inside were medical records, old photographs, and a document bearing the seal of a Rhode Island county clerk.
Victoria snatched it.
The certificate was dated eighteen months earlier.
The groom was Daniel James Vance.
The bride was Veronica Margaret Hale.
And beneath their signatures was a photograph.
A woman with Victoria's face.
The same green eyes. The same delicate nose. The same small scar above the right eyebrow.
But there was something different about her expression.
She looked colder.
Victoria dropped the certificate.
"How could you marry my sister?""
Daniel answered through the door.
"Very easily. We didn't grow up together.""
"You're disgusting.""
"Don't be dramatic. Veronica and I have been married longer than you and I have been engaged.""
Victoria felt sick.
"Then why did you propose to me?""
Daniel's voice became almost cheerful.
"Because you were the key to the company.""
Richard shut his eyes.
Daniel continued.
"Your mother left sixty-two percent of Vance Global to you. But the trust had a condition. You needed to remain legally competent, unmarried, and free from certain conflicts until the final transfer.""
Victoria stared at the documents.
"That's not what the agreement says.""
"Read the amendment.""
Her hands shook as she searched the folder.
There it was.
A document filed seven months earlier.
It contained an additional clause transferring the controlling shares to a designated family representative if Victoria died before the trust's final distribution.
The designated representative was Veronica.
Victoria looked up.
"So you planned to marry me, kill me, and inherit through my sister?""
"Exactly.""
Elena's face twisted with disgust.
"And Veronica agreed?""
Daniel laughed.
"She suggested it.""
A sudden metallic crash came from the rear of the cottage.
One of Daniel's guards had broken through the service entrance.
"Down!"" Evelyn shouted.
The first gunshot shattered a window.
Richard's wheelchair tipped sideways as Victoria pulled him behind the desk.
Elena grabbed the black case.
Evelyn reached beneath her coat and produced a small pistol.
Victoria stared at her.
"Since when do doctors carry guns?""
"Since I started working for your family.""
Evelyn fired once toward the doorway.
The guard ducked.
"Move!"" she shouted.
They hurried toward the rear passage.
But as Victoria reached the door, her phone vibrated.
An incoming video call.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A woman's face filled the screen.
Victoria stopped.
It was her own face.
Only older by a few minutes, perhaps, and marked by a thin scar across the chin.
The woman smiled.
"Hello, sister.""
Victoria couldn't speak.
Veronica tilted her head.
"You look terrible.""
"Where are you?""
"Somewhere Daniel can't reach me.""
Victoria glanced toward the cottage.
"You're married to him?""
Veronica's smile vanished.
"Unfortunately.""
"Why did you agree to this?""
"Because I thought he loved me.""
"And now?""
Veronica looked away.
"Now I know what he did to our mother.""
Victoria tightened her grip on the phone.
"Did you know about the poisoned gown?""
A long silence.
Then Veronica nodded.
"I ordered the treatment.""
Victoria felt as though someone had punched her in the chest.
"You tried to kill me?""
"I tried to stop Daniel from killing you.""
"By poisoning my dress?""
"The compound was designed to produce symptoms that would force you into emergency care. The plan was to expose Daniel's operation before the wedding.""
Victoria stared at the screen.
"That doesn't make any sense.""
"It wasn't supposed to be lethal at the exposure level in the fabric. Someone increased the concentration after I approved the order.""
Victoria remembered the burning skin, the brown patch, and the doctor's warning.
"Who increased it?""
Veronica's expression hardened.
"Daniel.""
Outside, another gunshot echoed.
Veronica leaned toward her camera.
"Listen carefully. You need to get to the old hospital. Mother is being moved tonight.""
"Why?""
"Because Daniel found out she's still alive.""
Victoria swallowed.
"Come with us.""
"I can't.""
"Why?""
Veronica glanced behind her.
A shadow passed across the room.
"Because he's here.""
A man's voice sounded in the background.
"Who are you talking to?""
Veronica's eyes widened.
"Victoria, don't trust—"
The call ended.
Victoria stared at the blank screen.
Then the rear door burst open.
A man wearing a dark tactical vest appeared.
"Police! Hands where I can see them!""
Evelyn lowered her pistol.
"Thank God.""
But Victoria noticed something.
The man's badge was upside down.
His radio was on the wrong frequency.
And his eyes went straight to the black case in Elena's hands.
"Give me the documents," he ordered.
Evelyn raised her weapon again.
"You're not police.""
The man smiled.
"You're absolutely right.""
He pulled a knife.
Before he could advance, a second man appeared behind him.
Samuel Price.
He struck the attacker across the back of the head with a metal flashlight.
The man collapsed.
Samuel grabbed Victoria's arm.
"We have less than three minutes.""
"Where's Daniel?""
"Escaping.""
"Where?""
Samuel looked toward the cliffs.
"To the hospital.""
Victoria picked up the family trust folder.
"Then that's where we're going.""
Samuel shook his head.
"Victoria, you don't understand. Daniel isn't trying to destroy the evidence anymore.""
"What is he trying to do?""
Samuel looked at Richard.
"He's going to activate the company's emergency succession clause.""
Richard's face went pale.
"That's impossible. He needs the original trust.""
Samuel nodded.
"Which is why he's taking Margaret.""
Victoria frowned.
"What does my mother have to do with it?""
Richard whispered the answer.
"Her signature.""
Then Samuel added something even worse.
"He's going to make Margaret sign a declaration transferring the entire company to Veronica.""
Victoria looked at the photograph of the two newborn babies.
"Then we stop him.""
Samuel shook his head.
"You can try.""
May you like
He glanced at the road outside.
"But Veronica has already made her choice.""
