Chapter 6 - The Ghost of Their Mother
Mia had always believed her mother left voluntarily.
That was the story Eleanor had told them.
Their mother had become unstable.
She had abandoned the family.
She had chosen another life.
But Victoria remembered something different.
She remembered her mother crying in the kitchen.
She remembered a suitcase.
She remembered her mother whispering:
"Victoria, if anything happens to me, protect Mia."
At the time, Victoria had been too young to understand.
Now the memory returned with terrifying clarity.
Victoria opened the old ledger.
The first pages contained financial transfers.
Payments.
Offshore accounts.
Property acquisitions.
Then she found a name.
Evelyn Vance.
Their mother.
Beside the name was a payment.
$750,000.
Date: October 17.
The day before Evelyn disappeared.
Victoria's stomach tightened.
She turned the page.
There was another payment.
Then another.
Then a handwritten note.
Eleanor ordered the transfer.
Victoria stared at the words.
Her breathing slowed.
She had expected corporate crimes.
Fraud.
Extortion.
Assault.
She had not expected this.
Mia entered the room.
"What is it?"
Victoria looked at her.
"Mom didn't leave."
Mia froze.
"What?"
Victoria turned the ledger around.
"Someone made her disappear."
Mia's hand flew to her mouth.
"Who?"
Victoria didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
May you like
Mia already knew.
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