But there was one more letter—this one from Victoria to Catherine, dated just two days ago. After Catherine’s death.
The handwriting was sharp, angry strokes across the page that looked nothing like her mother’s usual careful script.
“Mom, fine. You win. I admit it. I took the money. I needed it. You never understood what it’s like to feel that rush, that need.”
Emerald’s hands trembled as she continued reading.
“But guess what? Your clever little plan won’t work. Emerald adores me. She’ll give me whatever I ask for. Including her inheritance.”
“Because she loves me. So in the end, I still win. Maybe now you can stop trying to control everyone from beyond the grave. Goodbye.”
The casual cruelty of those words hit Emerald like a physical blow. Her mother had been planning to manipulate her from the very beginning.
The grief, the support, the comfort—it had all been an act, a setup to gain access to the inheritance Catherine had protected.
A Sleepless Night of Realization
Sleep wouldn’t come that night. Emerald wandered through her apartment, replaying memories that now felt distorted under this harsh new truth.
The Christmas presents that had always seemed too lavish for Victoria’s supposed budget. The times Mom had asked to “borrow” her credit card for emergencies that never quite made sense.
The seemingly innocent conversations about Catherine’s money, always framed as a caring daughter’s concern for her aging mother.
“Have you talked to Mom about power of attorney yet?” Victoria had once asked. “You know how forgetful she’s becoming.”
“She seems perfectly fine to me,” Emerald had answered, confused.
“I’m just planning ahead, sweetheart. We need to safeguard her assets.”
It hadn’t been concern. It had been greed—nothing but greed dressed up as love.
Victoria had betrayed her own mother for years, stealing from her while crying and promising to change.
And now she planned to betray Emerald too, using her love as a weapon to get what Catherine had specifically tried to keep from her.
Setting the Trap
By dawn, Emerald’s eyes were raw from crying and exhaustion, but her mind was sharp and clear. She knew exactly what she needed to do.
She picked up her phone and called her mother, keeping her tone calm and unsuspecting.
“Mom? Can we grab coffee? I have something important for you.”
“What is it, sweetheart?” Victoria’s voice was syrupy with concern. “Are you alright? You sound absolutely worn out.”
“I’m fine. It’s about Grandma. She left something for you. Told me to give it to you ‘when the time was right.’”
“Oh!” The eagerness in Victoria’s voice made Emerald’s stomach twist. “Of course, darling. Where shall we meet?”
“How about that quiet café on Mill Street?”
“Perfect. You’re such a thoughtful daughter, Emerald. So unlike how I was with my own mother.”
The irony of that statement cut deep. “Two o’clock,” Emerald said, and ended the call before her voice could betray her emotions.
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