Chapter 12 - Behind the Fountain
The garden fountain stood at the center of the backyard.
Its stone base had recently been repaired.
Victoria had complained about a crack and ordered the workers to leave before finishing.
Ethan walked outside.
The guests followed.
Victoria stayed inside until she realized being alone would look worse.
Near the fountain, Ethan saw fresh mortar.
He knelt and examined the lower stones.
One was slightly lighter than the others.
“Get me a screwdriver,” he said.
Victoria’s voice rose behind him.
“You are destroying my landscaping over the ramblings of a confused woman.”
Ethan did not look back.
“It became your landscaping when my mother was forced to sleep beside the washing machine?”
The screwdriver arrived.
Ethan loosened the stone.
Behind it was a waterproof document case.
Victoria stopped breathing.
Inside were the original deed, Margaret’s passport, medical records, and a notarized transfer agreement naming Victoria’s foundation as the buyer.
The purchase price was listed as one dollar.
Ethan read the signature line.
Margaret’s name had already been forged.
All that remained was an in-person identity confirmation.
“You planned to take twenty-eight million dollars from her,” Ethan said.
Victoria shook her head.
“That property would have gone to waste.”
“It belonged to her.”
“She was going to leave it to you anyway.”
“That does not make it yours.”
Victoria’s control shattered.
“I built this life!” she screamed. “I hosted the dinners. I protected your image. I made people respect the Cole name while she wandered around acting helpless!”
Margaret flinched.
Ethan stepped in front of her.
Victoria pointed at the torn robe.
“She would have given everything away! She never understood money!”
Margaret slowly stood with Lauren’s help.
For the first time that afternoon, her voice did not shake.
“I understood you.”
Victoria’s face twisted.
“You owe me.”
Margaret looked directly at her.
May you like
“No. I survived you.”
👉 Victoria had lost control in front of witnesses, but she still believed Ethan would protect his marriage to avoid a public scandal.
