Chapter 10 - THE LAST LETTERDaniel took Victoria to a small apartment outside Seattle.
Inside was a locked drawer.
He opened it.
Hundreds of letters filled the space.
All from their mother.
Victoria read them one by one.
Their mother had followed the family from a distance.
She had watched Victoria build her company.
She had known about Mia's return.
And she had been terrified Eleanor would discover that she was still alive.
The final letter was dated six months earlier.
I cannot hide forever.
If Eleanor falls, I will come home.
But there is one thing you must understand.
She was not always the monster you remember.
Victoria stopped reading.
Daniel said quietly:
“Our mother still loved her.”
Victoria shook her head.
“She chose power.”
“Yes.”
“But she was once afraid.”
Victoria stared at him.
“Are you defending Eleanor?”
“No.”
Daniel paused.
“I'm saying our mother didn't want us to become her.”
That sentence stayed with Victoria.
She had spent her entire adult life becoming stronger than Eleanor.
But strength without compassion could become another prison.
That night, Victoria called Mia.
“I found him.”
“Who?”
“Daniel.”
Mia began crying.
“My brother?”
“Yes.”
There was silence.
Then Mia laughed through her tears.
“For the first time in my life, I think our family might actually be getting bigger.”
Victoria smiled.
But before she could answer, another call came through.
An unknown number.
She answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Victoria... it's me.”
Victoria couldn't breathe.
“Mom?”
May you like
“Yes.”
“I've been waiting for you.”
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