Chapter 6 - Victoria Had Been Looking For Martha Too
Victoria Shaw did not arrive by coincidence.
Two days before Ethan brought Martha home, one of her investigators learned that somebody claiming to represent the Mercer family had already contacted the outreach program.
The worker remembered the name.
Ethan Bennett.
Victoria called him.
He denied locating anyone.
“She’s another dead end.”
Victoria asked whether he had met her.
“No.”
That lie changed everything.
She requested the shelter’s contact log through the appropriate channels.
Then she learned Ethan had arranged transportation for Martha.
Victoria attempted to reach me.
Ethan had my phone that morning because he claimed mine needed a security update connected to Dad’s estate account.
I realize how ridiculous that sounds now.
At the time, husbands touch their wives’ phones every day without it meaning conspiracy.
Small deceptions survive because they look ordinary individually.
Victoria eventually contacted our estate security manager directly.
He confirmed Ethan had brought an unfamiliar woman through the service entrance.
Victoria got into a car.
Her security personnel followed because she did not know what condition Martha was in or whether Ethan intended to move her again.
She arrived minutes after he shoved Martha.
The confrontation on our driveway told her the rest.
Victoria did not immediately declare:
“That’s your mother.”
Lawyers do not establish biological identity from a birthmark.
Instead, she said:
“Nobody signs anything today.”
Then she looked at Ethan.
May you like
“Especially not anything you prepared.”
That was the moment he realized she already knew.
