Chapter 15 - The Note
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At the very bottom of the yellow folder lay a single piece of lined notebook paper.
It wasn't written on expensive corporate letterhead. It was written in blue ballpoint ink, in the steady, familiar cursive handwriting Victor had seen on his school permission slips thirty years ago.
Victor picked up the paper with trembling fingers and read the words aloud in a hollow whisper:
“Victor,
When your father died, I swore I would protect you from every storm in this world. I thought giving you everything would teach you how to be strong. I was wrong. I gave you power without character, wealth without work, and comfort without gratitude.
Last night, you threw away your father’s compass because you believed you were too big to remember where you came from.
You wanted every guest in that room to see you put me in my place.
You wanted everyone to see what you did.
Now they will.
— Mother.”
As Victor finished reading the last line, the distant sound of blaring sirens began to echo down the canyon road.
May you like
Vanessa gasped, rushing to the front window.
“Victor!” she screamed, her voice filled with absolute terror. “There are police cars coming up the driveway! Four of them! Victor, what did you do?!”
