Victoria's Confession
Chapter 11 - Victoria's Confession
Victoria sat across from Emma in the hospital family lounge.
For once, she wore no diamonds.
“I agreed to create a scene,” she said.
“Why?”
“Richard told me you were planning to blackmail Julian during the gala.”
Emma laughed once.
It was not a happy sound.
“And you believed him?”
“I wanted to.”
That answer was worse.
Victoria looked down.
“My family’s foundation is tied to Richard’s. I had just learned he could block a merger that would save hundreds of jobs at my company.”
“So you helped him destroy me.”
“I thought you’d be removed from the ballroom. I did not know Claire would put the bracelet in your locker.”
“You still accused me.”
“Yes.”
“In front of everyone.”
“Yes.”
Emma stood.
Victoria did not stop her.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“I’m asking you to let me testify.”
Emma turned.
“Against Richard?”
Victoria nodded.
“I have emails.”
Emma stared at her.
“Why now?”
Victoria’s face broke.
“Because when I watched that video afterward, I saw your face.”
Emma said nothing.
Victoria continued.
“And I realized I had become exactly the kind of woman I spent my life claiming I wasn’t.”
It was not enough.
But it was something.
Emma brought the information to Julian.
The emails proved Richard had orchestrated the confrontation.
Not the planted evidence, perhaps.
But the public humiliation.
Julian wanted to release everything immediately.
Emma stopped him.
“No.”
He looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because Richard has spent twenty-four years controlling the story before anyone else can speak.”
She placed Victoria’s printed emails on the table.
“This time, we let him speak first.”
Julian understood.
At the next board meeting, Richard planned to accuse Emma of fabricating the entire scandal for money.
May you like
Emma planned to be sitting in the room when he did.
And this time, every word would be recorded.
