And in that instant, Victoria realized that the financial investigation might not be about her brother alone.
Her mother had been involved.
The question was whether she had helped Richard conceal the money...
Or whether she had been protecting something even more dangerous.
Daniel began reading the attached statement.
Then he stopped.
His expression became grave.
"Victoria, I think you should sit down."
She did not move.
"What is it?"
Daniel looked at the document again.
"The second account was opened in your father's name."
Victoria frowned.
"Then why is Mom listed?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Because she was the authorized contact."
Helen closed her eyes.
Richard immediately stepped forward.
"Daniel, put that away."
Daniel ignored him.
Victoria looked at her mother.
"Mom, what did you do?"
Helen began shaking her head.
"I was trying to help."
"Help whom?"
Helen looked at Richard.
That single glance was enough to make Victoria's stomach drop.
Richard suddenly raised his voice.
"She had nothing to do with the business."
Daniel placed the document on the table.
"Then perhaps you can explain why the second account received several transfers from the protected trust."
Richard said nothing.
Victoria looked at the figures.
The amount was enormous.
But what frightened her most was the final transaction.
It had been made just three days before her father died.
And the recipient was not Hayes Development Group.
It was an entirely different organization.
One whose name Victoria had never seen before.
Daniel slowly turned the page.
"There's something else."
He pointed to the bottom of the statement.
A handwritten note appeared beneath the transaction record.
It was dated the day before Frank Hayes died.
The note contained only one sentence.
"If Richard discovers that Victoria has been appointed successor protector, he will try to destroy the evidence before she can see it."
Victoria looked at her brother.
Richard's face had become completely pale.
Then Daniel revealed the final line.
"Your father also identified the person who helped Richard create the false authorization documents."
Victoria stared at the name.
It was not Martin Blake.
It was not a company employee.
It was someone she had trusted for her entire life.
Victoria stared at the name.
For several seconds, she could not bring herself to read it again.
The document was perfectly clear. There was no ambiguity, no missing information, and no possibility that she had misunderstood what Daniel was showing her.
The name written beneath the final transaction was Helen Hayes.
Her mother.
The woman who had raised her.
The woman who had held her hand during her first day of school, attended her graduation, and told her that family was the most important thing in the world.
The same woman who had stood beside Richard while he struck her in front of four hundred people.
Victoria slowly looked up.
"Mom?"
Helen's face crumpled.
"Victoria, please."
"Tell me this isn't what it looks like."
Helen began crying.
Richard immediately stepped forward.
"That's enough. We're leaving."
Samuel Whitmore moved slightly, blocking his path.
"Mr. Hayes, nobody is preventing you from leaving. But these documents are now part of an active financial review. I strongly recommend that you remain available for questions."
Richard glared at him.
"You have no authority over me."
Samuel remained calm.
"That is something you can discuss with your attorney."
Victoria looked at her mother again.
"Why is your name on the account?"
Helen wiped her cheeks.
"I didn't understand what Richard was doing."
Victoria glanced at the document.
"You were listed as the authorized contact."
"I was helping him."
"Helping him do what?"
Helen looked at Richard.
He shook his head almost imperceptibly.
It was a small movement, but Victoria noticed it.
Even now, her mother was waiting for her son to tell her what she was allowed to say.
Victoria stepped closer.
"Mom, look at me."
Helen slowly raised her eyes.
"I need you to tell me the truth. Just once."
Helen's lips trembled.
"I thought we were protecting your father's company."
Victoria shook her head.
"That isn't what I asked."
Daniel carefully placed the transaction records on the table.
"Mrs. Hayes, your name appears on several documents associated with the second account. If you were acting under instructions from your son, it is important that you explain exactly what those instructions were."
Helen looked at him with desperation.
"Can we not do this here?"
Victoria's voice became quieter.
"We have been doing this here all evening. The difference is that now I'm finally asking the questions."
Helen lowered herself into a chair.
For the first time that night, she seemed unable to maintain the elegant composure she had displayed when entering the hotel.
She looked older.
Smaller.
And frightened.
"I didn't know everything," she whispered.
Victoria pulled out the chair opposite her.
"Then tell me what you knew."
Helen took a shaky breath.
"After your father became ill, Richard started visiting the house more often. He told me the business was having problems. He said several investors were threatening to withdraw, and the banks were becoming difficult."