Chapter 1 - THE SCREAM BEHIND THE DOOR
Edward Hale came home carrying wildflowers for his mother.
Five seconds later, the flowers were scattered across the marble floor, and he was watching his wife raise her hand over the terrified seventy-six-year-old woman.
“SIGN IT!”
Victoria screamed so violently that her voice echoed through the mansion.
Florence Hale lay beneath the sweeping staircase, one hand covering her face and the other desperately reaching for her silver-handled cane.
Victoria stood above her in an emerald-green dress.
Beautiful.
Elegant.
And completely unrecognizable.
“You stubborn old hag,” Victoria hissed.
“I gave you a chance.”
Florence shook her head.
“No.”
“Then you can die with nothing.”
Victoria lifted her arm again.
The front door slammed against the wall.
“VICTORIA!”
She froze.
Edward stood in the doorway.
His dark blue suit jacket was still buttoned from the afternoon meeting he had left early.
At his feet lay the bouquet he had bought from a roadside stand because his mother loved wildflowers more than expensive roses.
Yellow petals scattered across the marble like tiny pieces of sunlight.
Edward stared at his mother’s bruised cheek.
Then at his wife.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Victoria’s face went white.
“Edward, listen—”
He crossed the foyer before she finished.
He grabbed her arm and dragged her away from Florence.
“Don’t touch her!”
Victoria stumbled.
“She attacked me first!”
Edward stared at her.
Florence could barely stand without a cane.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“You don’t know what she’s done!”
“I know what I just saw.”
Edward dropped beside his mother.
“Mom?”
Florence flinched when he touched her shoulder.
That tiny reaction hurt him more than anything.
“Mom, it’s me.”
Her eyes focused.
“Edward.”
“I’m here.”
She grabbed his jacket.
“She found out.”
“Found out what?”
Victoria laughed bitterly behind him.
“Oh, tell him.”
Edward turned.
Victoria picked up a leather folder from the floor.
“She’s dying.”
Silence filled the foyer.
Edward looked back at Florence.
“What?”
Florence closed her eyes.
Victoria continued.
“Cancer.”
Edward’s stomach dropped.
“How long?”
“Months,” Victoria said.
“Maybe less.”
Edward stared at his mother.
“You told me the tests were fine.”
“I didn’t want you worrying.”
His voice broke.
“Mom…”
Victoria slapped the folder against her palm.
“And while your precious mother was hiding her cancer, she was also rewriting her will.”
Edward slowly stood.
“What does that have to do with you attacking her?”
“Everything!”
Victoria opened the folder.
“She controls a trust worth more than twenty million dollars.”
Edward stared at her.
“She was going to donate most of it.”
“It’s her money.”
“It’s OUR money!”
“No.”
His voice turned cold.
“It was never yours.”
Victoria’s eyes flashed.
Florence suddenly reached beneath her blouse.
She pulled out a thin gold chain.
A small antique key hung from it.
Victoria saw it.
Her expression changed instantly.
“There!”
She lunged.
“Give me that!”
Edward stepped between them.
“What does this open?”
Florence curled her fingers around the little golden key.
“The second safe.”
Victoria stopped breathing.
Edward looked at his mother.
“What second safe?”
“The one behind your father’s portrait.”
Victoria backed toward the door.
Florence stared directly at her.
“She thought it contained jewelry.”
“It doesn’t.”
Edward’s skin prickled.
“What’s inside?”
Florence swallowed.
“Proof.”
“Proof of what?”
Florence looked at Victoria.
“That your wife is not Victoria Mercer.”
Edward turned.
Victoria was already reaching for the front door.
May you like
Florence’s next words stopped him cold.
“Edward, that woman has buried more than one husband.”
