Chapter 2: The Woman Victoria Thought She Could Control
Twenty-four hours before the wedding, Eleanor Hayes had been sitting alone in the bridal suite.
A small box rested on her lap.
Inside was a delicate gold bracelet with a tiny engraved inscription.
Welcome to the family. Love, Eleanor.
She had purchased it three months earlier.
Not because Victoria had asked for anything.
Because Eleanor had wanted to give her future daughter-in-law something meaningful.
The bracelet had belonged to Eleanor's own mother. It was the only piece of jewelry she had inherited from her.
A gentle knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in.""
Victoria entered wearing a silk robe, holding an iced coffee.
She didn't smile.
"Mrs. Hayes, we need to discuss tomorrow.""
Eleanor placed the box on the dressing table.
"Of course, sweetheart. Is everything all right?""
Victoria glanced around the room.
"Why did you arrange for your relatives to sit at the main family table?""
Eleanor looked confused.
"Because they're Marcus's family.""
"They're your family. That's different.""
Eleanor blinked.
"Well, yes. They're his cousins, aunts, and uncles.""
Victoria took a sip of coffee.
"I've already arranged the seating chart. My parents will sit beside us. Your family can sit at table twelve.""
"Table twelve?""
"It's closer to the kitchen, but they'll be comfortable.""
Eleanor stared at her.
The main family table had eight seats.
Victoria had given six of them to her own relatives and two to her parents' business associates.
There was no place for Marcus's mother.
"I thought Marcus would want me beside him," Eleanor said quietly.
Victoria placed her coffee on the counter.
"Marcus doesn't need to spend the entire reception holding your hand.""
Eleanor's expression tightened.
"I've never asked him to.""
"Good. Then we won't have a problem.""
Victoria picked up the bracelet box.
"What's this?""
"A little gift. Something my mother gave me when I married Marcus's father.""
Victoria opened it.
Her eyebrows lifted.
"Oh.""
"Do you like it?""
Victoria turned the bracelet over between her fingers.
"It's very old-fashioned.""
"It belonged to my mother.""
"Well, I'm sure it meant a lot to her.""
She put it back in the box.
Then she placed the box on the table without closing it.
"I don't really wear sentimental things.""
Eleanor nodded slowly.
"I understand.""
Victoria walked toward the door.
"One more thing. Tomorrow, please don't make a speech.""
Eleanor looked up.
"I wasn't planning to.""
"Marcus gets emotional when you talk about his father. I don't want everyone crying before dinner.""
Eleanor said nothing.
Victoria opened the door.
"And please wear something understated. This is my wedding, not a family reunion.""
The door closed.
Eleanor remained seated.
After a long moment, she closed the bracelet box.
She didn't cry.
Not yet.
That evening, Marcus found his mother in the garden behind the hotel.
She was sitting beneath a string of warm lights, looking at an old photograph on her phone.
It showed her husband holding a newborn Marcus.
"Mom?""
Eleanor quickly locked her phone.
"Hello, darling.""
He sat beside her.
"Why are you out here alone?""
"Just getting some air.""
Marcus studied her face.
"Did Victoria say something?""
Eleanor looked away.
"She's nervous. Weddings are stressful.""
"Mom.""
She sighed.
"Marcus, I don't want to come between you two.""
He leaned forward.
"You won't. Tell me what happened.""
Eleanor hesitated.
Then she told him about the seating arrangements.
The bracelet.
The request not to make a speech.
She even repeated Victoria's comment about wearing something understated.
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"She said that?""
"She didn't mean it badly.""
"Mom, stop defending her.""
Eleanor reached for his hand.
"She's your future wife. I want you to be happy.""
Marcus looked down at their joined hands.
"Do you remember what Dad used to say?""
She smiled faintly.
"He said you were the most stubborn child in the neighborhood.""
Marcus chuckled.
"No. The other thing.""
Eleanor's eyes softened.
"That a person's character is revealed by how they treat someone who cannot give them anything in return.""
Marcus nodded.
"Exactly.""
He kissed her forehead.
"Tomorrow, you're sitting beside me. I don't care what the seating chart says.""
Eleanor smiled.
For a brief moment, she felt the warmth of the family she had spent decades building.
But she didn't know that Victoria had been watching them through the garden doors.
The following morning, Victoria entered the bridal suite and found Marcus checking his cufflinks.
"We need to talk.""
He glanced up.
"About what?""
"Your mother.""
Marcus slowly lowered his hands.
"What about her?""
"She's making everything uncomfortable.""
"She's been nothing but kind to you.""
Victoria rolled her eyes.
"That's the problem. She's constantly trying to be involved.""
"She's my mother, Victoria.""
"And I'm your wife.""
"You're not my wife until today.""
Victoria walked closer.
"Then maybe you should decide whose side you're on before you put that ring on my finger.""
Marcus stared at her.
"Is this an ultimatum?""
"It's a boundary.""
He gave a short, disbelieving laugh.
"You want me to choose between you and my mother?""
"I want you to stop treating her like she's part of our marriage.""
Marcus shook his head.
"She's part of my life. That's not changing.""
Victoria folded her arms.
"Fine. But I won't be responsible for making her feel included.""
He turned away.
"Nobody asked you to be responsible for her feelings. Just don't hurt them.""
Victoria said nothing.
Marcus left to meet the groomsmen.
The moment the door closed, Victoria pulled out her phone.
She opened a conversation with someone saved under the name *DANIEL - PRIVATE*.
Her fingers moved quickly.
*He still thinks his mother controls everything. We need to deal with this before the wedding.*
A reply appeared almost immediately.
*Did you get him to sign the papers?*
Victoria looked toward the door.
Then she typed:
*Not yet. But once the ceremony is over, he won't have a choice.*
At the wedding reception, after Marcus walked out with Eleanor, Victoria returned to the bridal suite.
She locked the door.
Her hands were shaking.
She pulled open the bottom drawer of the dressing table and removed a cream-colored folder.
Inside were several documents.
A marriage property agreement.
A transfer authorization.
And a copy of a trust summary.
She flipped through the pages until she reached the signature section.
Marcus's signature was missing.
Victoria swore under her breath.
Then she took out her phone and called someone.
"Daniel, we have a problem.""
A man's voice answered.
"What happened?""
"Marcus left.""
There was a pause.
"Left where?""
"With his mother. He took off the ring.""
Daniel exhaled sharply.
"Did he sign the transfer?""
"No.""
"Then we're in trouble.""
Victoria pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"Can we still use the agreement?""
"Not without his signature.""
She stared at the folder.
Then Daniel said something that made her blood run cold.
"Victoria, there's something you need to understand. Eleanor knows about the missing signature.""
Victoria swallowed.
"How?""
"Because she's the one who warned the attorney.""
Victoria's grip tightened around the phone.
"You're lying.""
"I'm not. And if she has the original documents, she may already know what we did.""
Victoria stood completely still.
Then she whispered:
"What do you mean, what we did?""
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
When he finally spoke, his voice was almost a whisper.
"Your mother wasn't supposed to tell you about the second trust.""
Victoria's face went pale.
"What second trust?""
The call disconnected.
She stared at the screen.
A knock sounded at the suite door.
"Victoria?""
It was Eleanor's voice.
Victoria's heart began pounding.
May you like
The older woman spoke again.
"There's something I think you should see before you make another mistake.""
