CHAPTER 6 – WHAT VICTORIA WANTED
Daniel already knew part of the answer.
He had not wanted to know it. That was different.
When his father died, the Beaumont estate was divided carefully. Daniel controlled the business assets. Evelyn retained lifetime authority over the family foundation, the mansion trust, and several accounts tied to medical care, household staff, and charitable giving. Victoria had never liked that.
At first, she called it old-fashioned.
Then inefficient.
Then unfair.
“Your mother can barely manage her own breakfast,” she once said. “Why should she still control foundation signatures?”
Daniel had dismissed it as frustration. He told himself Victoria was overwhelmed. He promised the lawyers would review things after his mother’s condition stabilized.
But Evelyn’s condition did not stabilize.
It worsened every time Daniel left.
Now he understood why.
He turned to Maria. “Is there more?”
Maria’s eyes filled. “Yes, sir.”
Victoria’s voice sharpened. “You treacherous—”
Daniel stepped closer. “Do not speak to her.”
Maria opened a folder she had tucked beneath the linen basket. Inside were notes, dates, photographs, and printed medication logs. “Your mother missed doses when Mrs. Beaumont said she was sleeping. Meals were taken away early. Physical therapy was canceled. The doctor was told she refused sessions. I wrote down every time I saw it.”
Daniel took the folder with shaking hands.
Evelyn looked ashamed. “I didn’t want to be trouble.”
He knelt again. “Mom, no. No.”
Her wet fingers touched his cheek, weak but deliberate. “I tried to tell you.”
“I know,” he whispered, though he had not known enough. “I know now.”
Victoria saw him softening toward his mother and realized she was losing. Panic became anger.
“She was going to ruin us,” she said. “Do you know how much money is locked behind her signature? The foundation, the estate wing, the medical accounts. You were drowning in Europe while she sat here with everything frozen.”
Daniel rose.
“Everything frozen?” he repeated.
“Yes. We needed control.”
“We?”
Victoria swallowed.
That small mistake opened another door.
Daniel looked at her diamonds, her gown, the new bracelet he had not bought. “How much?”
She looked away.
“How much did you take?”
Maria answered softly. “The jewelry invoices were paid through household medical reserves, sir.”
Victoria glared at her.
Daniel’s face drained of color.
His mother’s care account.
The account meant for nurses, medication, therapy, warmth.
Diamonds.
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The truth was no longer a crack.
It was a collapse.
