CHAPTER 3 — THE PERFECT FIANCÉE
CHAPTER 3 — THE PERFECT FIANCÉE
Daniel did not sleep that night.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the photograph.
Victoria.
Standing beside his mother.
His mother, who had supposedly died twelve years ago.
His mother, whose funeral he had attended.
His mother, whose grave he had visited every year.
His mother, whose death had been the first tragedy that changed the Vance family forever.
And now Clara had proof that she was alive.
Daniel sat alone in the study at three in the morning.
The photograph lay on the desk.
Beside it were the trust documents.
And beside those—
Victoria's financial records.
He stared at them.
For months, he had defended her.
Every warning had sounded like jealousy.
Every question had sounded like suspicion.
Every concern from Clara had felt like another attempt to control his life.
But now there was something different.
Evidence.
Daniel picked up the first file.
VICTORIA HALE — PERSONAL HISTORY.
He opened it.
Then stopped.
The first page contained a birth certificate.
He frowned.
The date was correct.
The name was correct.
But the place of birth was different from what Victoria had told him.
Daniel turned the page.
A school record.
Another discrepancy.
He turned another.
A property record.
Another lie.
His breathing became slower.
“What the hell?”
He kept reading.
Victoria had told him she grew up in a wealthy family in Boston.
According to the documents, she had spent most of her childhood in another state.
She had told him her father built a successful investment company from nothing.
The records showed the company had been created through a series of acquisitions funded by an offshore account.
She had told him she had never struggled financially.
Her mother's medical records told a different story.
There had been years of unpaid bills.
Debt.
Loans.
And a bankruptcy filing.
Daniel leaned back.
The woman he knew was disappearing page by page.
THE FIRST LIE
At eight the next morning, Daniel called his private investigator.
“Come to the house.”
The investigator arrived forty minutes later.
His name was Michael Grant.
Daniel had used him twice before.
Never for anything personal.
Never for anything involving someone he loved.
Today was different.
Michael placed a laptop on the table.
“You asked me to verify Victoria Hale's background.”
“Yes.”
Michael looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
Daniel nodded.
“Everything.”
“Her family?”
“Yes.”
“Her finances?”
“Yes.”
“Her relationship history?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Yes.”
Michael opened the first file.
“Victoria Hale is not Victoria Hale.”
Daniel stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
“Her legal name is Victoria Elaine Hale.”
“So?”
“She changed it eight years ago.”
“To what?”
“Victoria Rose Hale.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why?”
“Because the original surname attached to her family was not Hale.”
Michael clicked the screen.
A name appeared.
Varga.
Daniel's face tightened.
“Varga?”
“Yes.”
“Why would she change it?”
Michael looked at him.
“Because the Varga family had a criminal investigation connected to them.”
Daniel stared.
“What kind of investigation?”
“Fraud.”
“Did they convict anyone?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“The key witness disappeared.”
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“Who?”
Michael turned the screen toward him.
A photograph appeared.
A young woman.
Daniel recognized her immediately.
“That's Victoria.”
Michael nodded.
“She was seventeen.”
THE PERFECT STORY
Daniel stood and walked toward the window.
Victoria had told him she had grown up privileged.
That her parents had raised her in a mansion.
That her father had taught her how to invest.
That she had attended elite schools.
That she had spent summers in Europe.
She had made it sound effortless.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
Michael continued.
“Most of the story is fabricated.”
Daniel turned.
“Most?”
“Her father wasn't an investment genius.”
“What was he?”
“A middleman.”
“For whom?”
“We don't know.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Then find out.”
Michael hesitated.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“Victoria didn't meet you by accident.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“What are you saying?”
“I checked the timeline.”
Michael opened another document.
“Sixteen months before you met Victoria, she had already been researching you.”
Daniel stared at the screen.
His name appeared.
His photograph.
His company.
His family.
His inheritance.
His sister.
Clara.
His mother.
The Vance Trust.
Everything.
Daniel whispered:
“She knew.”
“Yes.”
“She knew who I was.”
“Yes.”
“Before we met?”
“Sixteen months before.”
Daniel slowly sat down.
“How did we meet?”
Michael answered:
“At the charity auction.”
Daniel remembered.
He had been late.
Victoria had been standing near the entrance.
She had dropped a glass.
He had helped her.
They had laughed.
She had told him she didn't know who he was.
She had said:
“I don't care about your last name.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
That sentence suddenly sounded different.
Not romantic.
Calculated.
THE SECOND LIE
Michael opened another file.
“There's more.”
Daniel looked up.
“Her assets.”
Victoria had always told Daniel she was financially independent.
She had refused expensive gifts.
She had insisted she could support herself.
Daniel had admired that.
Michael placed a financial report on the table.
“She isn't wealthy.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“She has almost no liquid assets.”
“But she owns property.”
“Not personally.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Then who owns it?”
“Three holding companies.”
“Owned by?”
Michael paused.
“Companies connected to the same offshore network that funded the eight-point-four-million-dollar transfer.”
Daniel's face went cold.
“So her lifestyle…”
“Was financed.”
“By whom?”
“We're still tracing it.”
Daniel stared at the documents.
Every expensive dress.
Every vacation.
Every charity donation.
Every investment.
Every “accidental” encounter.
He had believed he was dating a wealthy socialite.
He had actually been dating someone financed by people who wanted access to the Vance family.
THE THIRD LIE
Daniel's phone rang.
Victoria.
He stared at the screen.
Michael looked at him.
“Answer.”
Daniel did.
“Hello?”
“Darling.”
Her voice was warm.
Perfect.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“I missed you.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Victoria.”
“Yes?”
“Can you come here?”
There was a pause.
“Of course.”
“Now.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No.”
Daniel looked directly at Michael.
“Nothing at all.”
THE PERFECT FIANCÉE
Victoria arrived twenty minutes later.
She entered the study carrying flowers.
White roses.
Daniel's favorite.
She smiled.
“Good morning.”
Daniel looked at the flowers.
“You remembered.”
“Of course.”
She kissed his cheek.
“You looked stressed yesterday.”
Daniel stepped away.
Victoria noticed.
“What happened?”
“I found something.”
Her expression remained calm.
“What?”
“About you.”
Silence.
Victoria smiled.
“About me?”
“Yes.”
She laughed softly.
“Should I be worried?”
Daniel looked into her eyes.
“You lied about your childhood.”
Her smile froze.
“What?”
“You lied about your family.”
“I don't understand.”
“You lied about your finances.”
Victoria's eyes began to water.
“Daniel…”
“You lied about how we met.”
She stared at him.
“That isn't true.”
Michael walked into the room.
Victoria immediately recognized him.
Her expression changed.
“You hired someone to investigate me?”
Daniel nodded.
“Why?”
“Because I don't know who you are.”
Victoria looked wounded.
“You don't trust me?”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Should I?”
She stepped closer.
“I love you.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
“I have.”
“No.”
Daniel placed the documents on the desk.
“You haven't.”
Victoria looked down.
Her eyes moved across the pages.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered:
“My family had problems.”
Daniel waited.
“My father made mistakes.”
“What kind?”
“Financial mistakes.”
“Fraud?”
Victoria looked up.
“He wasn't convicted.”
“That isn't an answer.”
She started crying.
“I was seventeen.”
Daniel frowned.
“What happened?”
“My father disappeared.”
“And?”
“I had to change my name.”
“Why?”
“To escape the scandal.”
Daniel stared.
“You could have told me.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of losing you.”
Daniel's expression hardened.
“You didn't lose me because of your past.”
He pointed toward the documents.
“You lost my trust because you lied about it.”
Victoria wiped her tears.
“I wanted a new life.”
“With me?”
“Yes.”
“Or with my family?”
She froze.
Daniel saw it.
That tiny hesitation.
One second.
One fraction of a second.
But it was enough.
THE FOURTH LIE
Daniel walked toward her.
“Did you know about the Vance Trust before you met me?”
Victoria didn't answer.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
“How much did you know?”
“I knew your family was wealthy.”
“That's not what I asked.”
She looked away.
“How much?”
“I knew about the trust.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“How?”
“I heard about it.”
“From whom?”
Victoria remained silent.
Daniel slammed his hand onto the desk.
“From whom?”
She flinched.
“Your father.”
Daniel froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Before we met.”
“Why would my father talk to you?”
Victoria shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because he told me not to.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You've been working with my father?”
“No!”
Victoria's denial came too quickly.
Daniel noticed.
“You just lied again.”
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
“No.”
“You did.”
Victoria began crying harder.
“Daniel, please.”
He stepped back.
“I'm done.”
Her face changed.
“Done?”
“For tonight.”
She stared at him.
“You're breaking up with me?”
“No.”
Hope returned to her eyes.
“Then?”
Daniel looked at her.
“I want you to stay.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“I want you to stay.”
Victoria slowly smiled.
“Why?”
“Because I want to know how far this goes.”
Her smile disappeared.
“What do you mean?”
Daniel's voice became cold.
“I want to know who sent you.”
THE MASK FALLS
For the first time since Daniel had met her, Victoria looked genuinely frightened.
Not sad.
Not hurt.
Afraid.
“Who said someone sent me?”
“You did.”
“I didn't.”
“You just reacted like someone who has something to hide.”
Victoria stared at him.
Daniel continued:
“You researched me sixteen months before we met.”
She said nothing.
“You knew about the trust.”
Nothing.
“You knew about my family.”
Nothing.
“You knew my mother.”
Her eyes moved.
Daniel saw it.
“You knew she was alive.”
Victoria stepped backward.
“No.”
“You knew.”
“I didn't.”
“Then why were you photographed with her?”
Victoria froze.
Daniel placed the photograph on the desk.
Victoria looked at it.
The color drained from her face.
“Where did you get that?”
Daniel stared.
“You recognize her.”
Victoria said nothing.
“Victoria.”
Her voice trembled.
“I can't explain.”
“You will.”
“Daniel…”
“You will.”
She looked at him.
Then whispered:
“Your mother isn't the person you think she is.”
Daniel's blood ran cold.
“What does that mean?”
“She didn't disappear because of your father.”
“Then why?”
Victoria looked toward the door.
“I shouldn't have come here.”
Daniel grabbed her wrist.
“Don't walk away.”
She pulled free.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because they will kill me.”
Silence.
Daniel stared.
“Who?”
Victoria shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“You just said they.”
“I don't know who they are.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Then tell me what you do know.”
Victoria's tears returned.
“I was supposed to get close to you.”
Daniel's face went blank.
“What?”
“I was supposed to get close to you.”
“Why?”
“To find something.”
“What?”
“The original trust document.”
Daniel stared at her.
“And the secret beneficiary?”
Victoria swallowed.
“I was told it was your mother.”
Daniel's voice dropped.
“Who told you?”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Your father.”
THE RECORDING
The study door opened.
Clara walked in.
She looked at Daniel.
Then Victoria.
Then the documents scattered across the desk.
“I assume you've finally started asking the right questions.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
Victoria stared at Clara.
“You knew about me?”
Clara nodded.
“I knew you weren't what you claimed.”
“Then why didn't you stop me?”
“Because I needed you to reveal who was behind you.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You think you're clever.”
Clara looked at her.
“No.”
She placed a small recorder on the desk.
“I think you're scared.”
Victoria stared at it.
Clara pressed play.
Victoria's own voice filled the room.
“I was supposed to get close to Daniel.”
Victoria's face turned white.
Daniel looked at her.
“When did you record that?”
Clara answered:
“Yesterday.”
Victoria backed away.
“You tricked me.”
“No.”
Clara's voice was calm.
“You told the truth.”
The recording continued.
“I was supposed to find the original trust document.”
Daniel looked at Victoria.
Then at Clara.
The room felt smaller.
Clara stopped the recording.
“There is one thing you still don't understand.”
Victoria stared.
“What?”
Clara leaned forward.
“You came here looking for the trust.”
Victoria swallowed.
“But the trust was never the real prize.”
“What is?”
Clara looked toward Daniel.
“Your brother.”
Daniel frowned.
“Me?”
Clara nodded.
“Daniel isn't just the son of the Vance family.”
She opened the sealed document.
“He is the key.”
Daniel stared.
“To what?”
Clara turned the document around.
At the bottom was a clause neither of them had ever seen.
THE TRUST SHALL REMAIN SEALED UNTIL THE TRUE HEIR VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERS HIS CLAIM.
Daniel's face went pale.
“What does that mean?”
Clara looked at him.
“It means someone has spent twelve years trying to make you give up your inheritance.”
Victoria whispered:
“So they can access the trust.”
Clara nodded.
“And now we know why.”
Daniel stared at Victoria.
“You weren't sent here to marry me.”
Victoria shook her head.
“No.”
“Then why?”
Her voice broke.
“To make you trust me.”
Daniel's eyes hardened.
“And then?”
Victoria looked at Clara.
“Make you sign.”
Silence.
Clara's expression became deadly serious.
“Sign what?”
Victoria began crying.
“The surrender document.”
Daniel stepped back.
Suddenly, every romantic moment made sense.
Every conversation.
Every argument with Clara.
Every time Victoria had told him that his family didn't value him.
Every time she had encouraged him to leave the family business.
Every time she had said:
You deserve your own life.
She had never been helping him become independent.
She had been pushing him toward surrender.
And he had almost done exactly what they wanted.
Daniel looked at Victoria.
“You were going to make me sign away my inheritance.”
Victoria shook her head.
“I didn't know what would happen.”
“You knew enough.”
“I was scared.”
“So was I.”
He stepped away.
“But I trusted you.”
Victoria whispered:
“I loved you.”
Daniel's eyes filled with pain.
“Maybe.”
He looked at the woman he had planned to marry.
“But you loved the version of me that could open a door.”
Clara picked up the trust document.
“And now the door is closing.”
THE PERFECT FIANCÉE
Victoria walked out of the mansion that afternoon.
No engagement ring.
No flowers.
No tears.
Just silence.
The cameras were waiting outside.
Reporters shouted questions.
“Victoria!”
“Are you still engaged to Daniel Vance?”
“Is the wedding canceled?”
“What's happening inside the Vance estate?”
Victoria stopped.
For a moment, Daniel thought she might tell the truth.
Instead, she turned toward the cameras.
And smiled.
“I have nothing to say.”
Then she walked away.
Daniel watched from the window.
Clara stood beside him.
“You're wondering whether you loved her.”
Daniel nodded.
“I am.”
Clara looked at him.
“You did.”
He looked surprised.
“Then why doesn't it feel real anymore?”
“Because love doesn't make lies true.”
Daniel stared outside.
“What's going to happen now?”
Clara closed the curtains.
“Now?”
She looked at him.
“We find your mother.”
Daniel's heart stopped.
“And we find the person who sent Victoria.”
Clara picked up the trust file.
“And when we do…”
She paused.
“We find out why they were so desperate to get you to sign away the Vance fortune.”
Daniel looked toward the door Victoria had walked through.
For the first time, he understood something terrifying.
The perfect fiancée had never been trying to become part of the Vance family.
She had been trying to destroy it from the inside.
And somewhere in the city, the person who had created the plan was already preparing the next move.
May you like
Because Victoria had failed.
But the mastermind had not.
