The Price of a Secret

Chapter 9

Victoria Bennett stood in front of her bedroom mirror, staring at her reflection.

Her phone lay on the dressing table.

She had read the message from her former employee three times.

“Daniel knows about the messages.”

Her fingers trembled.

For six years, she had convinced herself that what she did was necessary. She had protected her son from a future she believed would destroy everything the Bennett family had built.

But now Maya was back.

And Daniel was asking questions.

A knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Mother?”

Victoria quickly turned.

Daniel stood at the doorway.

“We need to talk.”

She forced a smile. “Of course, darling. Come in.”

He entered but remained standing.

“Who was the woman you employed six years ago? The one who worked in your office?”

Victoria’s smile faded slightly.

“I’ve employed many people over the years. You’ll have to be more specific.”

“She helped you send fake messages to Maya and me.”

Silence.

For several seconds, Victoria said nothing.

Then she sighed.

“Daniel, I think you’re allowing Maya to manipulate you.”

His expression hardened.

“Don’t bring Maya into this. I’m asking about you.”

Victoria walked towards the dressing table.

“Whatever you heard, there are things you don’t understand.”

“Then explain them.”

She turned around.

“I did what I thought was best for you.”

Daniel let out a bitter laugh.

“You destroyed my relationship and made me believe the woman I loved had abandoned me. How was that best for me?”

Victoria’s eyes filled with tears.

“She wasn’t suitable for this family.”

“That wasn’t your decision to make!”

“She had nothing, Daniel! No family influence, no connections, no future that matched yours. I was trying to protect you.”

Daniel stared at her in disbelief.

“So love means nothing to you?”

Victoria looked away.

“Love doesn’t keep a family business alive.”

Daniel shook his head.

“You’re my mother. I trusted you.”

He turned towards the door.

“Daniel, wait.”

But he was already gone.

Victoria sank into a chair.

For the first time in years, she wondered whether she had made the biggest mistake of her life.

Downstairs, Maya sat on the living room sofa, looking through old photographs on her phone.

One photograph caught her attention.

It was taken six years ago, on the evening she and Daniel had planned to celebrate their anniversary.

They were smiling, holding each other close.

She touched the screen.

“Why did we have to lose all those years?” she whispered.

“Because someone decided our happiness was a threat.”

Maya looked up.

Daniel stood behind the sofa.

She quickly locked her phone.

“Did you speak to your mother?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“She admitted she was involved.”

Maya closed her eyes.

Although she had suspected Victoria, hearing that Daniel had received confirmation made everything feel painfully real.

“She said I wasn’t good enough for your family, didn’t she?”

Daniel sat beside her.

“She had no right to make that decision.”

Maya swallowed.

“I spent years thinking you had stopped loving me. I blamed myself for everything.”

Daniel gently reached for her hand.

“I blamed myself too.”

Their eyes met.

“I wish I could go back,” he whispered.

“So do I.”

For a moment, Daniel leaned closer.

Maya didn’t move away.

But before either of them could say anything, a small voice interrupted them.

“Mummy?”

Lia stood at the bottom of the staircase, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

Maya immediately stood.

“Sweetheart, why are you awake?”

“I had a bad dream.”

Daniel crouched down.

“What happened, princess?”

Lia walked towards him.

“I dreamt you went away.”

Daniel’s heart tightened.

He lifted her into his arms.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Lia wrapped her little arms around his neck.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Maya watched them, feeling both happiness and fear.

She wanted Lia to have the family she deserved.

But she also knew that the people who had separated her from Daniel might not stop at sending threatening messages.

The following morning, Daniel received a call from Adrian.

“Daniel, we need to talk.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I found something while looking through the old company records.”

Daniel frowned.

“What records?”

“Documents connected to the Bennett family trust. Your mother’s name appears on several transactions made around the time Maya left.”

Daniel stood from his desk.

“What kind of transactions?”

“Large payments. One was made to an account belonging to someone named Collins.”

Daniel froze.

“Collins?”

“Yes. I thought it might be connected to Maya.”

“Send me everything you have.”

“I will. But Daniel, there’s something else.”

“What?”

Adrian lowered his voice.

“The payment wasn’t made to Maya. It was made to someone in her family.”

Daniel stared out of his office window.

Maya had always told him she had no one to depend on.

Who could have received money from his mother?

And why?

At the mansion, Maya was helping Lia colour a picture when her phone rang.

An unfamiliar number appeared.

She answered cautiously.

“Hello?”

A woman’s voice came through.

“Maya Collins?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

“My name is Evelyn Collins.”

Maya’s hand froze.

Evelyn.

She hadn’t heard that name in years.

“How did you get this number?” Maya asked.

There was a brief silence.

“I know you’ve returned to Daniel. And I know you’ve started asking questions about what happened six years ago.”

Maya stood slowly.

“What do you want?”

“I think it’s time you knew the truth.”

Maya’s heart began to race.

“What truth?”

Evelyn took a deep breath.

“The money Victoria gave your family wasn’t the only reason you were separated from Daniel.”

Maya gripped the phone.

“What are you talking about?”

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“Your father knew about the arrangement, Maya. And he helped make it happen.”

Maya felt the room spin.

“My father?”

“There’s something he never told you.”

The call ended.

Maya stared at her phone, unable to move.

For six years, she had believed Victoria Bennett was the only person responsible for destroying her relationship.

Now she was beginning to realise that the betrayal might have come from someone much closer to home.

And the worst part?

Her own family might have been involved.