Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO NEVER LEFTVictoria had once been Daniel's fiancée.
That was what everyone told Claire.
But Claire quickly realized the word "fiancée" did not explain what Victoria had become.
She appeared at breakfast.
At dinner.
In Margaret's study.
In the gardens.
Everywhere.
She knew where everything was.
She knew which staff members to command.
She knew which family photographs had been taken decades ago.
She knew Daniel's favorite songs.
She even knew the way he took his coffee.
One morning, Victoria casually said:
"Daniel hated cinnamon."
Claire froze.
"That's strange."
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Because he always asked me to put cinnamon in his coffee."
For the first time, Victoria's expression cracked.
Only for a second.
But Claire saw it.
That afternoon, Victoria entered the nursery while Claire was changing Leo.
"You should be careful," Victoria said.
"About what?"
"About believing everything you hear."
Claire turned.
Victoria smiled.
"Daniel wasn't the man you thought he was."
Claire's jaw tightened.
"You didn't know him better than I did."
Victoria's eyes darkened.
"I knew him before you ever existed in his life."
Then she walked away.
Claire watched the door close.
Something about Victoria frightened her.
Not because she was loud.
Because she wasn't.
May you like
Victoria was patient.
And patient people could wait for the perfect moment to strike.
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