Chapter 7 - Victoria's Perfect LieVictoria recovered quickly.
She always had.
"Valerie, your mother isn't well," she said. "You have no idea what I've been dealing with."
Valerie said nothing.
"She became confused. She wandered outside. She threatened herself. I was protecting her."
"You locked her in a cage."
"To keep her safe!"
Victoria's voice rose.
"Ask Julian!"
Everyone looked toward Julian Sterling.
He stood beside the fountain.
His face was pale.
"Julian?" Victoria demanded.
He couldn't meet Valerie's eyes.
That silence destroyed Victoria's story more effectively than any accusation.
Valerie looked at him.
"How long?"
Julian swallowed.
"I didn't know it was this bad."
Valerie's expression hardened.
"That's not what I asked."
Julian finally whispered:
"Four weeks."
Beatrice closed her eyes.
Valerie inhaled slowly.
May you like
Four weeks.
Her mother had been trapped there for four weeks.
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