Chapter 5 - CATHERINE’S CHOICE
Catherine requested a private meeting with Victoria.
Lena advised against it.
Victoria agreed only if the conversation was recorded and held at Lena’s office.
Catherine arrived wearing a pale cardigan and carrying a leather handbag Victoria recognized from her own credit-card statement.
She sat across from her daughter.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Catherine said, “You look tired.”
Victoria almost laughed.
“You came to discuss Daniel.”
Catherine’s composure cracked slightly.
“Richard told me the court released your birth certificate.”
“He lied to me my entire life.”
“We protected you.”
“From knowing my father?”
“You were four.”
“I am twenty-nine.”
Catherine folded her hands.
“Daniel was unstable.”
“George Ellis disagrees.”
“George worshiped him.”
“Did Daniel steal from the business?”
“No.”
“Did Richard?”
Catherine looked away.
Victoria continued.
“Did Daniel know?”
“Yes.”
The answer came softly.
“What was Daniel’s file?”
Catherine closed her eyes.
“A folder of company records.”
“Where is it?”
“I do not know.”
“Madison recorded you saying it had to stay gone.”
“Richard destroyed it.”
“When?”
“After Daniel died.”
Victoria leaned forward.
“Tell me what happened.”
Catherine’s fingers tightened around the handbag.
“Daniel confronted Richard at the warehouse. He said he was going to the police. They argued.”
“Were you there?”
“Yes.”
“Did Richard push him?”
Catherine’s breathing changed.
“He grabbed him.”
“Did he push him?”
“The railing broke.”
“Did Richard damage the railing?”
“I do not know.”
“You do.”
“I saw him near the platform earlier.”
Victoria felt her heart pounding in her throat.
“What was he doing?”
“He had tools.”
“And you said nothing.”
Catherine looked at her.
“I was pregnant.”
“With Madison.”
“Yes.”
“You chose Richard.”
“I chose survival.”
“You chose the man who may have killed Daniel.”
“I did not know he would fall.”
“But afterward?”
Catherine began crying.
“He said it was an accident. He said Daniel attacked him. He said if I spoke, I would lose everything and you would go into foster care.”
“You had one point eight million dollars in insurance money.”
“It was not mine.”
“So you helped take it.”
“I raised you.”
“With my money.”
Catherine flinched.
Victoria did not.
For years, Catherine used sacrifice as a weapon.
I fed you.
I clothed you.
I gave up my life.
The records showed Victoria financed most of those sacrifices without knowing.
“Did Richard strike Daniel?” Victoria asked.
“No.”
“Did he sabotage the railing?”
“I saw him loosen something.”
The room became silent.
Lena stopped writing.
Victoria felt no victory.
Only grief arriving twenty-five years late.
“Why tell me now?”
Catherine wiped her face.
“Because Richard will blame me.”
“He already has?”
“He says I changed the policy.”
“Did you?”
“I signed as witness.”
“Knowing Daniel had not signed?”
“Yes.”
Victoria stood.
Catherine reached across the table.
“Please.”
Victoria stepped back.
“Do not touch me.”
“I am your mother.”
“You kicked a floor rag toward me after he hit me.”
Catherine’s face collapsed.
“I was afraid of him.”
“And you taught us to be afraid too.”
“I can testify.”
“Then testify.”
“Will you forgive me?”
Victoria looked at the woman who gave birth to her and helped erase the man who had loved her first.
“No.”
Catherine lowered her eyes.
“Not today.”
May you like
Victoria walked out.
It was the most mercy she could offer.
