Chapter 6 — His Mother’s Secret
Chapter 6 — His Mother’s Secret
The notebook remained open on the floor.
Olivia stared at the three names.
Richard Vale.
Eleanor Hayes.
Arthur Hartwell.
Her father's name was circled.
A question mark sat beside it.
And beneath them, written in her mother's unmistakable handwriting, were six words that refused to leave Olivia's mind.
Do not trust Arthur until you know.
Olivia picked up the notebook.
Her hands were shaking.
For twelve years, she had believed her father's silence was grief.
Now she wondered if it had been guilt.
She turned another page.
Nothing.
Another.
Blank.
Another.
Blank.
Then, near the back, she found a page that had been torn out.
Only a jagged strip remained.
Someone had deliberately removed it.
Olivia stared at the torn edge.
Her mother had kept records of everything.
Appointments.
Names.
Meetings.
Financial figures.
If a page was missing, it was not an accident.
Someone had taken it.
She heard footsteps behind her.
Arthur.
Olivia closed the notebook.
He stopped in the doorway.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Arthur looked at the book in her hands.
“You found it.”
Olivia's stomach tightened.
“You knew it was here.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Mom wrote about you.”
“Yes.”
“You knew she didn't trust you.”
Arthur looked away.
“She trusted me more than anyone.”
“Then why did she write that?”
“Because she was afraid.”
“Of you?”
Arthur's silence was answer enough.
Olivia's voice became colder.
“What did you do?”
Arthur looked directly at her.
“Nothing.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is the truth.”
“My mother died.”
“Yes.”
“She was investigating Richard.”
“Yes.”
“She suspected someone inside our family.”
“Yes.”
“And she wrote your name.”
Arthur nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Arthur walked slowly into the room.
“Because your mother believed I was hiding something.”
“Were you?”
“Yes.”
Olivia's heart sank.
“What?”
Arthur stopped beside the desk.
“I was hiding you.”
She frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“After your mother died, I moved money, companies, and assets into structures she had created.”
“Why?”
“To protect you.”
“From Richard?”
“From everyone.”
Olivia stared.
“You've been doing that for twelve years.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Arthur's voice was quiet.
“Because your mother asked me not to.”
Olivia froze.
“She asked you?”
“Yes.”
“Before she died?”
“Yes.”
“What exactly did she say?”
Arthur looked toward the window.
“She told me that if she didn't survive, I had to make you ordinary.”
Olivia felt a chill.
“Ordinary?”
“She believed your surname would make you a target.”
“And that's why I became Olivia Lane.”
“Yes.”
“And that's why you let me marry Victor?”
Arthur closed his eyes.
“No.”
“Then who let me?”
Arthur looked at her.
“You did.”
At 7:18 a.m., Eleanor Hayes woke to a phone call.
She stared at the screen.
Arthur Hartwell.
Her heart stopped.
She did not answer.
The phone stopped ringing.
Then started again.
Eleanor finally picked it up.
“Hello?”
Arthur's voice was cold.
“We need to talk.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“You know exactly what I'm talking about.”
Silence.
Then Eleanor whispered:
“Elizabeth.”
Arthur's grip tightened around the phone.
“Yes.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“I knew this day would come.”
“You knew she left something.”
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't lie to me.”
“I am not.”
“You worked with Richard.”
Eleanor's breathing changed.
“I made mistakes.”
“You betrayed my family.”
“No.”
“You betrayed Elizabeth.”
Eleanor began crying.
“I was trying to save Victor.”
Arthur went silent.
“What did you say?”
“I was trying to save my son.”
“You chose Richard.”
“I chose my child.”
Arthur's voice became dangerously quiet.
“And what did that choice cost Elizabeth?”
Eleanor could not answer.
Arthur ended the call.
At 8:02 a.m., Olivia sat across from Kendra.
The second envelope was still on the table.
The letter from her mother lay beside it.
“You knew Eleanor was involved.”
Kendra nodded.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since before you married Victor.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Kendra looked down.
“Fear makes people stupid.”
Olivia almost smiled.
“Sometimes.”
Kendra touched the edge of the envelope.
“Your mother told me Eleanor had access to something.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I heard them arguing.”
“Who?”
“Eleanor and Richard.”
“About what?”
Kendra hesitated.
“Victor.”
Olivia's expression changed.
“What about him?”
“Eleanor wanted Richard to stop using him.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew Victor was getting too close to you.”
Olivia frowned.
“Too close?”
Kendra nodded.
“She thought he was beginning to care about you.”
Olivia stared at her.
“Did he?”
Kendra gave a sad smile.
“I think he did.”
“That doesn't excuse what he did.”
“No.”
“It doesn't excuse the affair.”
“No.”
“The theft.”
“No.”
“The violence.”
Kendra looked directly at her.
“No.”
Olivia leaned back.
“Then why are you defending him?”
“I'm not.”
Kendra's voice was quiet.
“I'm telling you that monsters are not born complete.”
Olivia said nothing.
“They become them one choice at a time.”
At 8:37 a.m., Eleanor arrived at the Hartwell estate.
She looked much older than Olivia remembered.
Her pearls were gone.
Her hair was disheveled.
Her hands trembled.
Arthur met her in the foyer.
Olivia stood behind him.
Eleanor saw her.
For a moment, her face collapsed.
“Olivia.”
Olivia did not move.
“Why?”
Eleanor began crying.
“I didn't know how to stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Everything.”
“You helped Richard.”
“I did.”
“You helped him get close to Victor.”
“Yes.”
“You knew who I was.”
“Yes.”
“You knew who my mother was.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Richard was investigating my family.”
“Yes.”
Olivia's voice became colder.
“And you let me marry your son.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Eleanor looked at Arthur.
Then at Olivia.
“Because I believed I was protecting Victor.”
“From what?”
“From your father.”
Olivia's expression hardened.
“My father?”
Eleanor nodded.
“Richard told me Arthur was going to destroy Victor.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.”
“You believed him?”
“I wanted to.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor was drowning.”
Olivia frowned.
“Debt?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“More than you knew.”
“Richard paid it.”
Eleanor nodded.
“In exchange for what?”
Eleanor hesitated.
“Information.”
“About me?”
“Yes.”
Olivia's heart sank.
“What did Victor know?”
“Nothing at first.”
“And later?”
“He knew your family was wealthy.”
“Did he know I was a Hartwell?”
“No.”
Eleanor looked down.
“But he suspected.”
“When?”
“After the wedding.”
Olivia's eyes narrowed.
“How?”
“Your father.”
Arthur stiffened.
“What did I do?”
Eleanor looked at him.
“You once sent a lawyer to negotiate a Meridian contract.”
Arthur frowned.
“That happens.”
“Victor saw him.”
“So?”
“The lawyer called you Mr. Hartwell.”
Olivia froze.
Victor had heard.
Arthur had not known.
Eleanor continued.
“Victor started asking questions.”
Olivia whispered:
“And you?”
“I told him he was imagining things.”
“Why?”
“Because Richard told me to.”
Olivia stepped closer.
“What else did Richard tell you?”
Eleanor began shaking.
“That if Victor ever learned the truth, he would leave you.”
Olivia stared.
“And that would be bad for Richard.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Eleanor looked toward Arthur.
“Because Richard needed Victor inside your marriage.”
Arthur's face hardened.
“For what?”
Eleanor's voice dropped.
“To find the Hartwell succession plan.”
Silence.
At 9:05 a.m., Victor sat across from Richard.
The room was dark.
A single lamp illuminated the table.
Victor looked exhausted.
“You told me Elizabeth knew me.”
Richard nodded.
“She did.”
“How?”
“She investigated you.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew you were vulnerable.”
Victor stared.
“She knew about my debt?”
“Yes.”
“My consulting agreement?”
“Yes.”
“The money?”
“Yes.”
“And she still wanted me near Olivia?”
Richard smiled.
“She wanted you close enough to protect her.”
Victor laughed bitterly.
“Protect her?”
“Yes.”
“From you?”
Richard's smile disappeared.
“From someone worse.”
Victor leaned forward.
“Who?”
Richard pushed a file toward him.
Victor opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Eleanor.
Richard.
Arthur.
Elizabeth.
And Victor.
All connected.
A diagram stretched across several pages.
Victor stared at the center.
His name was there.
Olivia's name beside it.
Then Elizabeth.
Then one final name.
Unknown Principal.
Victor looked up.
“What is this?”
Richard said:
“The reason you were selected.”
“Selected for what?”
“To marry Olivia.”
Victor's face went pale.
“You told me she chose me.”
“She did.”
“Then why is my name here before I met her?”
Richard smiled.
“Because someone else chose you first.”
At 9:42 a.m., Olivia found another file.
It had been hidden behind the bottom drawer of her mother's desk.
The folder was thin.
No title.
Inside were only three pages.
The first contained a list of names.
The second contained bank account numbers.
The third contained a photograph.
Olivia stared.
It showed Victor.
Seven years earlier.
Standing beside Richard.
But Victor wasn't looking at Richard.
He was looking at someone outside the frame.
Olivia turned the photograph over.
A note was written on the back.
He doesn't know who he is working for.
Olivia's heart raced.
She looked at the date.
Six months before her wedding.
She turned to Russell.
“Find out who took this.”
“We will.”
“No.”
She pointed at the photograph.
“I want to know who is standing outside the frame.”
Russell looked at it.
“We may not be able to identify them.”
“Then enhance it.”
“We'll try.”
Olivia stared at the image.
There was something familiar about the shadow.
A woman.
Tall.
Elegant.
One hand resting against a black umbrella.
Olivia enlarged the photograph.
Her breath caught.
The woman wore a pearl bracelet.
A distinctive bracelet.
Olivia had seen it before.
On Eleanor Hayes.
At 10:16 a.m., Eleanor was sitting in Arthur's study.
Arthur placed the photograph in front of her.
“Is this you?”
Eleanor looked at it.
She did not answer.
“Eleanor.”
“Yes.”
Arthur's voice became cold.
“You were meeting Richard.”
“Yes.”
“And Victor.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I told you.”
“To protect him.”
Arthur slammed his hand against the desk.
“You don't protect your son by selling my daughter.”
Eleanor flinched.
“I never wanted Olivia hurt.”
“But you helped the man who wanted her controlled.”
“I didn't know how far Richard would go.”
“You knew enough.”
“Yes.”
Arthur stared at her.
“Tell me the truth.”
Eleanor began crying.
“I thought if Victor married Olivia, he would become powerful.”
Arthur said nothing.
“I thought he would have access to your family.”
“And?”
“I thought that would make Richard leave him alone.”
Arthur's face changed.
“You traded my daughter for your son's safety.”
Eleanor whispered:
“Yes.”
Olivia stood in the doorway.
Eleanor saw her.
Her face collapsed.
“I'm sorry.”
Olivia stared at her.
“Did you ever love me?”
Eleanor cried harder.
“Yes.”
“Then why?”
“Because I loved my son more.”
Olivia nodded slowly.
“At least that's honest.”
She turned away.
Eleanor reached for her.
“Olivia.”
Olivia stopped.
Eleanor whispered:
“There's something else.”
Olivia looked back.
“What?”
“Victor wasn't the first man Richard tried to put near you.”
Olivia's blood went cold.
“What?”
“There were three.”
“Three what?”
“Three men.”
Eleanor swallowed.
“Three men Richard considered suitable.”
Olivia stared.
“Victor was the third.”
At 10:44 a.m., Arthur dismissed everyone.
He closed the study door.
Olivia remained outside.
She heard Eleanor crying.
Then silence.
A few minutes later, Arthur opened the door.
Eleanor was gone.
Olivia looked at her father.
“Three men.”
Arthur nodded.
“I knew about two.”
“Two?”
“Yes.”
“Who were they?”
Arthur hesitated.
“Your mother stopped them.”
“How?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
Arthur shook his head.
“Elizabeth handled things I didn't always understand.”
Olivia stared.
“Dad.”
Arthur looked at her.
“Your mother was much more dangerous than people thought.”
Olivia almost smiled.
“That sounds like her.”
Arthur's expression softened.
“For years, I believed I was protecting her memory.”
“And now?”
“Now I think she was protecting us.”
At 11:28 a.m., Victor returned to the hotel.
He found Kendra waiting outside.
She looked at him.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“I need answers.”
“So do I.”
Victor stopped.
“What did you know?”
Kendra looked away.
“Enough.”
“Did you know Olivia was a Hartwell?”
“No.”
“Did you know Richard wanted access to her?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know my mother was involved?”
“Yes.”
Victor's face tightened.
“You knew?”
“I knew your mother was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
Kendra looked at him.
“Your father.”
Victor froze.
“My father?”
Kendra nodded.
“Richard didn't choose you because you were ambitious.”
“Then why?”
“Because your father was useful.”
Victor stared.
“My father died when I was twelve.”
Kendra whispered:
“He didn't.”
Victor stopped breathing.
“What?”
“Your father isn't dead.”
At 11:42 a.m., Victor's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?”
A man's voice spoke.
“You've been asking questions.”
Victor recognized it.
His father's voice.
The voice he had heard only in childhood memories.
“Dad?”
Silence.
Then:
“Victor.”
His knees nearly gave way.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere your mother can't find me.”
Victor's heart raced.
“Why?”
“Because she thinks I'm dead.”
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“Why would she think that?”
“Because she helped Richard make it look that way.”
Victor's world tilted.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
“Where are you?”
The line went silent.
Then:
“Ask your wife.”
Victor's face hardened.
“What does Olivia know?”
The voice answered:
“More than you think.”
The call ended.
At noon, Olivia received a message.
From an unknown number.
A photograph.
Victor's father.
Alive.
Standing beside Richard.
The date was yesterday.
Underneath it:
Your husband's mother is not the secret.
Another message appeared.
She is only the keeper of it.
Olivia stared.
Then:
The man who created Victor's debt is still alive.
Her heart pounded.
A final message arrived.
And he wants his son back.
Olivia slowly lowered the phone.
Behind her, Arthur walked into the room.
“What happened?”
She turned.
“Victor's father is alive.”
Arthur went completely still.
For the first time since Olivia had known him, her father looked genuinely shocked.
“You're sure?”
She showed him the photograph.
Arthur stared.
Then whispered:
“Impossible.”
Olivia looked at him.
“Why?”
Arthur's face hardened.
“Because I watched him die.”
Silence.
“You watched him die?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Fourteen years ago.”
Olivia looked again at the photograph.
The man standing beside Richard was unmistakably Victor's father.
Alive.
Older.
Watching the camera.
Watching them.
Arthur's voice dropped.
“His name was Daniel Hayes.”
Olivia frowned.
“Why does that matter?”
Arthur looked at her.
“Because Daniel Hayes was one of the men your mother was investigating before she died.”
Olivia's stomach tightened.
“And now?”
Arthur stared at the photograph.
“Now he's back.”
That evening, Eleanor sat alone in her bedroom.
She opened a locked drawer.
Inside was a small velvet box.
She took it out.
Opened it.
Inside was a pearl bracelet.
The same bracelet visible in the photograph.
Eleanor touched it with trembling fingers.
Then she removed a folded piece of paper hidden beneath the velvet.
Elizabeth's handwriting.
One sentence.
If Daniel ever returns, tell Olivia the truth before he does.
Eleanor began crying.
Because Daniel had already returned.
And he had already spoken to Victor.
She picked up the phone.
For several seconds, she hesitated.
Then she dialed a number she had not called in fourteen years.
The call connected.
A man's voice answered.
“You finally called.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“You can't come back.”
He laughed softly.
“I already did.”
“Leave Victor alone.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“You made a promise.”
“I made many mistakes.”
“You did.”
“What do you want?”
Daniel's voice became cold.
“My son.”
Eleanor began shaking.
“And Olivia?”
Silence.
Then:
“Olivia is the reason I lost everything.”
Eleanor whispered:
“She's innocent.”
Daniel answered:
“So was her mother.”
The line went dead.
Eleanor sat motionless.
Then she noticed something beneath the velvet box.
A second photograph.
She picked it up.
It showed Elizabeth Hartwell.
Standing beside Daniel Hayes.
Both of them were smiling.
The date was fourteen years old.
On the back, one sentence was written.
Before we became enemies.
Eleanor stared at it.
Then realized the truth she had buried for fourteen years.
Daniel Hayes had not entered the Hartwell family's story because of Victor.
Victor had entered because of Daniel.
And Elizabeth had not been investigating Richard alone.
She had been investigating the man who would eventually become Victor's father.
The affair.
The marriage.
The theft.
The lies.
None of them had started with Victor.
They had started with a secret between Elizabeth Hartwell and Daniel Hayes.
May you like
A secret that had survived her death.
And now it was coming back for Olivia.
