Chapter 9 - The Reckoning
Federal investigators arrived at the estate before sunrise.
Black SUVs filled the driveway.
Agents carried boxes from the mansion.
Documents.
Hard drives.
Bank records.
Photographs.
Eleanor stood at the top of the staircase watching everything she owned disappear into evidence bags.
"This is my home."
An agent looked up.
"Not anymore."
She turned toward Victoria.
"You planned this."
Victoria stood in the foyer.
"No."
Eleanor laughed bitterly.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I planned accountability."
Eleanor descended the stairs.
"You've become exactly like me."
Victoria's expression hardened.
"No."
She stepped closer.
"You use fear to make people obey you."
She pointed toward the evidence boxes.
"I use the law."
"You destroyed this family."
Victoria's voice softened.
"You did that years ago."
Eleanor's eyes filled with rage.
Then, unexpectedly, she whispered:
"You don't know what I did to protect you."
Victoria froze.
"Protect me from what?"
Eleanor smiled.
But she said nothing.
May you like
For the first time, Victoria wondered whether Eleanor had been hiding something even bigger.
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