Chapter 6 - The Letter Catherine Actually Wrote
Victor read the letter alone in a private lounge beside the ballroom.
Annie sat against him beneath his suit jacket.
Elena Dalton, the church volunteer, had arrived to explain how Annie came to the hotel.
Brian stood near the door.
Catherine’s letter was three pages long.
She wrote that Maris had opened accounts using Annie’s Social Security number.
She discovered it after a collection notice arrived for a loan she never requested.
When Catherine confronted Maris, she was told to remain quiet.
Maris claimed the money supported Victor’s business interests.
Catherine did not believe her.
She planned to tell Victor when he returned from Chicago.
Before she could, Leonard delivered documents accusing Catherine of financial misconduct.
Maris threatened to use them to remove Annie from her care.
She also threatened to destroy Catherine’s reputation and claim she was unstable.
Catherine left because she believed distance would keep Annie safe until she found legal help.
She begged Victor to contact her directly.
At the bottom, she wrote:
Please do not believe anything delivered through your mother.
Victor lowered the page.
The warning had been intercepted by the very person it described.
“Why didn’t Catherine call from another phone?” he asked.
Brian answered carefully.
“She tried.”
Victor looked at him.
“Maris had your assistant block every number connected to Catherine.”
Victor’s longtime executive assistant, Paul, controlled his calls and schedule.
Maris told Paul that Catherine had become dangerous.
Paul believed her.
He redirected messages to Leonard.
Victor felt sick.
His power, wealth, and staff had not protected his family.
They had created walls Maris learned to control.
Annie touched the edge of the letter.
“Is that from Mom?”
“Yes.”
“Does it say she hates you?”
Victor swallowed.
“No, sweetheart.”
Annie’s lip trembled.
“Grandma said Mom left because you didn’t love us enough.”
Victor pulled her closer.
“That was a lie.”
“Did you look for me?”
The question nearly broke him.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you find us?”
Victor looked down.
“Because I trusted the wrong people.”
Annie studied his face.
Then she rested her head against him again.
It was not forgiveness.
But she did not pull away.
Brian handed Victor another page.
It was a bank notice connected to a loan opened under Annie’s identity.
The balance was more than $300,000.
Victor stared at the number.
His mother had not only stolen the support money.
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She had used his daughter as a financial instrument.
👉 The loan in Annie’s name led to a luxury property Victor had unknowingly paid for—and Maris had been planning to announce it at her birthday party.
