Chapter 9: The Secret About Maelis’s Mother

The message led them to a place Maelis had never visited.

A small coastal town three hours away.

The house was old.

The paint was fading.

But inside were memories.

Photographs.

Letters.

A life that had existed before Corisande.

The woman who sent the message introduced herself.

“Clara.””

She looked at Maelis with tears in her eyes.

“You look exactly like your mother.””

Maelis didn’t know how to respond.

Nobody had said that to her in years.

Adrian stood beside her.

“Why did you contact us now?””

Clara looked down.

“Because I was afraid.””

“Of Corisande?””

Clara nodded.

“She made sure nobody spoke.””

Inside the house, Clara showed them a box.

Filled with letters.

“She wrote these before she died.””

Maelis opened one carefully.

Her mother’s handwriting.

Her hands shook.

“My beautiful Maelis…”

She stopped.

Tears filled her eyes.

Adrian looked away, giving her privacy.

The letters revealed something shocking.

Maelis’s mother had not died because of an accident.

Not exactly.

She had discovered financial fraud connected to Corisande’s family.

She had planned to expose it.

But before she could, she died.

And Corisande had been the last person to see her alive.

Adrian went silent.

“No.””

Clara looked at him.

“You need to understand something.””

“What?””

“Corisande didn’t enter your life by accident.””

The room froze.

“She knew about your wealth.””

“She knew about Maelis.””

“She knew exactly how to become someone you trusted.””

Adrian felt sick.

Because suddenly the entire marriage looked different.

Not love.

A plan.

When they returned to the mansion, Corisande was gone.

But she had left a note.

Adrian opened it.

Three words.

“You chose her.””

Maelis frowned.

“What does that mean?””

Then the phone rang.

A police officer.

“Mr. Vale?””

“Yes.””

“We need you to come to the station.””

“Why?””

A pause.

“Because Mrs. Vale has filed a complaint.””

Adrian closed his eyes.

“What complaint?””

The officer answered:

“She claims Maelis attacked her intentionally.””

Maelis stared.

“She’s still lying.””

Adrian looked at his daughter.

“No.””

His voice was different now.

Stronger.

“She’s fighting.””

And he finally understood.

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Corisande was dangerous when she was winning.

But she was even more dangerous when she was losing.