Chapter 8: The Woman Behind The Perfect Image
The next morning, I made a decision.
I was done asking questions politely.
I needed answers.
Real answers.
And there was only one person who could give them to me.
Victoria Mercer.
I knew confronting her directly was risky.
Emily had warned me.
Daniel had warned me.
Everyone had warned me.
But nobody had given me the truth.
So I called her.
"Victoria?""
"Claire.""
Her voice was warm.
Almost too warm.
"I was wondering when you would call.""
The statement made my stomach tighten.
"You were?""
"Of course.""
A pause.
"I imagine you have questions.""
I looked out my office window.
"Yes.""
"Then come for lunch.""
I almost refused.
But I didn't.
Because I needed to see the woman everyone feared.
Victoria chose a private restaurant in downtown Boston.
Of course she did.
Not her house.
Not somewhere emotional.
Somewhere public.
Somewhere controlled.
She arrived exactly on time.
Perfect hair.
Perfect clothes.
Perfect smile.
She looked like a woman who had never lost an argument.
"Claire.""
She kissed my cheek.
"I'm glad you're here.""
We sat down.
For several minutes, we talked about harmless things.
The wedding.
The venue.
The guest list.
Then she placed her napkin beside her plate.
"Now.""
She looked directly at me.
"Let's discuss Emily.""
I didn't hide my surprise.
"You know?""
She smiled.
"Darling, I know everything that happens in my family.""
That sentence alone told me more than she intended.
"I met with Emily.""
"I know.""
My fingers tightened around my glass.
"How?""
"Because Emily tells me everything eventually.""
"She told you?""
"No.""
Victoria smiled.
"But she always leaves evidence.""
I felt cold.
"You monitor her?""
"Monitor?""
She laughed softly.
"What an ugly word.""
"What word would you use?""
"Protect.""
I stared at her.
"You call controlling someone protection?""
Her smile disappeared.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
"Claire, you are young.""
I almost laughed.
Thirty-two was not young.
But she said it like I was a child.
"You believe everyone deserves unlimited freedom.""
"Shouldn't they?""
"Not always.""
The answer was immediate.
"Some people destroy themselves when given choices.""
I thought of Emily.
"Is that what you believe?""
"I know it.""
Victoria leaned closer.
"Emily has always been fragile.""
"Her doctor disagreed.""
For the first time, Victoria's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
"You've seen her records.""
It wasn't a question.
"You removed the final page.""
Silence.
Then she smiled again.
"You're very curious.""
"Answer me.""
"My daughter was sick.""
"That isn't what the report said.""
Victoria looked almost disappointed.
"I thought you would be smarter.""
The words hit harder than I expected.
"You don't know my daughter.""
"I know her better than anyone.""
"No.""
Victoria's voice became softer.
"I know her better than she knows herself.""
That was the moment I understood.
Victoria truly believed she was right.
That was what made her dangerous.
People who know they are hurting others can sometimes stop.
People who believe they are saving them rarely do.
When I returned home, Daniel was waiting.
"You met my mother.""
It wasn't a question.
I looked at him.
"How did you know?""
"She called me.""
Of course she did.
"What did she say?""
"That you misunderstood.""
I laughed quietly.
"Of course.""
Daniel looked hurt.
"Claire.""
"No, I'm sorry.""
I shook my head.
"But this is unbelievable.""
"What is?""
"Everyone talks about Emily like she's the problem.""
Daniel was silent.
"Your mother says she's protecting her. You say she's unstable. Emily says she's trapped.""
I stepped closer.
"Do you understand how strange that is?""
He rubbed his face.
"I don't know what you want me to say.""
"The truth.""
"I don't know what the truth is.""
That answer surprised me.
Because it sounded genuine.
For the first time, Daniel looked lost.
Not defensive.
Not angry.
Lost.
"I was a kid when this started.""
"You were twenty-eight.""
He flinched.
"Exactly.""
I stopped.
Because that was the first time he admitted something.
He wasn't the powerful son of the Mercer family.
He was someone who had been shaped by them.
But that didn't excuse everything.
"You had a choice.""
He looked at me.
"And I failed.""
The honesty shocked me.
"What?""
Daniel sat down.
"My mother asked me to convince Emily to stay.""
I held my breath.
"What did you do?""
"I told Emily she was making a mistake.""
"Why?""
"Because I believed my mother.""
His voice cracked.
"And because I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Losing everything.""
The room went silent.
There it was.
The truth.
Not that Daniel hated Emily.
Not that he wanted her to suffer.
Something worse.
May you like
He chose himself.
And now I had to decide whether that was something I could forgive.
