The Son She Refused to See
Chapter 07 - The Son She Refused to See
Victoria’s statement lasted nearly two hours.
She admitted Marcus had spent months convincing her that Emma planned to seize the foundation. He showed her altered bank records, anonymous messages, and a draft article claiming Emma had hidden debts. Victoria never verified the documents because they confirmed what she already feared.
Marcus also persuaded her to hire Celeste. He called the coordinator discreet, efficient, and loyal to the family. In reality, Celeste had worked for one of Marcus’s failed investment companies under another name.
“I gave them access,” Victoria said. “Not because they fooled me completely, but because I wanted their story to be true.”
Ruiz asked whether she knew Leo would be lured into the suite.
Victoria closed her eyes. “No. I knew Marcus planned to confront Emma with evidence before the ceremony. I believed it involved financial records. When he told me the boy had broken the case, I did not ask questions.”
“Why not?”
“Because blaming him was easier than admitting my son might be dangerous.”
When the interview ended, Victoria found Emma and Leo in a family waiting room. Daniel stood nearby but did not intervene.
Victoria removed her earrings and set them on the table, as though taking off the last pieces of her public armor. Then she crouched in front of Leo.
“I frightened you,” she said. “You were hurt, and I treated you like the threat. There is no excuse.”
Leo did not answer.
“I believed cruel things about you because I was afraid of losing control,” she continued. “I am sorry.”
“Do you believe me now?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Would you believe me if there wasn’t a recording?”
Victoria’s face tightened. It was the question no adult in the room could soften for her.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “And that is what I am most ashamed of.”
Leo looked at Emma, then at Daniel. Finally, he said, “I’m not ready to forgive you.”
Victoria nodded. “You don’t owe me forgiveness.”
Before leaving, she gave Ruiz access to her private financial files. Among them was a transfer Marcus had asked her to approve three weeks earlier: $180,000 paid to an event-consulting company owned by Celeste’s sister.
That transfer led police to a warehouse near the river.
Inside they found dismantled wedding decorations, blank foundation letterhead, a printer capable of reproducing embossed seals, and the blue document case Leo had heard about. The case was empty.
A security guard reported that Celeste had arrived just after midnight, taken a black suitcase, and left in a gray sedan driven by a man matching Marcus’s description.
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Traffic cameras traced the car toward the private airport.
The next charter flight to Montreal was scheduled to depart in ninety minutes.
