CHAPTER 3 — THE WOMAN IN RED'S SECRET
Victoria Harrington felt her heart stop.
For twenty-three years she had buried the truth.
Now it was clawing its way back into the light.
Richard slowly raised his eyes.
"Victoria..."
His voice was terrifyingly calm.
"Did you know about this?"
She tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
The silence was answer enough.
Guests exchanged stunned looks.
Victoria finally broke.
"Yes!"
The word exploded through the ballroom.
"Yes, I knew!"
Gasps erupted everywhere.
Richard stared at her in disbelief.
Victoria wiped away tears.
"I loved you."
Her voice cracked.
"I knew you would never choose me if Emma stayed."
Years ago, Victoria's wealthy father had secretly offered Emma money to leave town.
When Emma refused, the threats began.
Eventually she fled to protect her unborn child.
Richard never knew.
He spent years believing Emma had abandoned him.
And Victoria had built an entire marriage on that lie.
The empire.
The fortune.
The family name.
Everything suddenly felt rotten.
Emma stood silently watching.
Not angry.
Not triumphant.
May you like
Just heartbroken.
Because the father she had searched for her entire life was discovering the truth at the exact moment his world was falling apart.
