My Wealthy Parents Tried to Sell Me Off, but Their Own Secret Destroyed Them
Previously: Victoria thought her family's wealth was built on hard work, but when her parents try to force her into a loveless marriage, she uncovers a dark secret.
The Secret in the Safe
Victoria’s heart hammered against her ribs as she fled up the grand staircase. The sound of her parents’ laughter echoed in her ears, fueling a sudden, fierce determination. She was done being the obedient daughter. She didn't head to her bedroom; instead, she slipped into her father’s private study, a room that had always been off-limits.
The room smelled of old paper and expensive leather. Victoria approached the massive oak desk, her hands trembling as she began opening drawers. She wasn't sure what she was looking for, but she knew her parents were desperate. The Sterlings were supposed to be billionaires, yet they were selling her off like a piece of property to Julian Vance. There had to be a reason.
Finding nothing but routine business documents in the desk, Victoria turned her attention to the oil painting of their family estate hanging on the wall. She pushed it aside, revealing a small, digital safe. She held her breath and entered her own birthdate. With a soft click, the heavy steel door swung open.
Inside lay a thick manila envelope labeled "Project V." Victoria pulled it out and opened it under the dim light of the desk lamp. As she scanned the legal documents inside, her breath caught. Ten years ago, she had been in a severe car accident that left her in a coma. Her parents had told her that her beloved grandmother had passed away shortly after from grief, leaving nothing behind.
But the documents in her hand proved otherwise. Her grandmother had left a fifty-million-dollar trust fund entirely to Victoria. While Victoria lay unconscious in the hospital, Eleanor and Arthur had forged her signature on a power of attorney, draining the trust to prop up their failing real estate ventures. Now, a federal audit was looming, and they needed Julian Vance’s billions to cover up their crime before they were sent to prison.
Suddenly, the heavy brass doorknob of the study began to turn. Victoria froze, her blood running cold.
”Victoria froze, her blood running cold.