Victoria disliked the room.
She said keeping it unchanged prevented us from becoming a family.
Three weeks earlier, she had insisted that Grace pack Eleanor’s belongings before the wedding.
I refused.
Now Grace held a key hidden inside the blanket Eleanor used when Noah was born.
“What does it open?” I asked.
“The locked drawer in her desk.”
“You opened it?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I was going to. Then Victoria found me inside the room.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“She’s inventing excuses because she knows you’ll believe anyone who worships Eleanor.”
I took the key.
The desk drawer opened on the first attempt.
Inside were bank statements, medical records, a sealed envelope, and a small digital camera.
A note rested on top.
Daniel—watch the video before speaking to Nathan.
My younger brother.
The man who was supposed to stand beside me as best man in six days.
I turned on the camera.
Eleanor’s face appeared on the small screen.
She was sitting in that same bedroom.
The date showed the video had been recorded two days before her death.
My late wife looked exhausted.
But her voice was clear.
“Daniel, if you are watching this, Victoria has already entered our lives.”
My blood ran cold.
I believed I had met Victoria nearly a year after Eleanor died.
Nathan introduced us at a charity auction.
Victoria used the last name Langford.
She told me she worked in nonprofit development.
Eleanor continued.
“Her legal name is Victoria Shaw. She works for Nathan under her mother’s last name. She has been accessing family medical records and information connected to Noah’s trust.”
Victoria lunged toward the camera.
“Turn it off!”
A security officer caught her before she reached me.
The video continued.
“Nathan is planning to place Victoria near you after I’m gone. If she becomes Noah’s legal guardian and something happens to you, they will control his trust together.”