Chapter 12 - The Betrayal Inside the FamilyThe photograph showed Ashley.
My husband's sister.
Standing beside Victor.
But that was not what shocked me.
She was holding a folder.
The folder contained the same logo as my father's old company.
Mara zoomed in.
“She's been working with him.”
I stared.
“But why would Ashley help expose him now?”
“Maybe she isn't.”
The anonymous sender replied minutes later.
She wants out.
We arranged a meeting.
Ashley arrived wearing sunglasses even though it was nighttime.
She sat down.
“Before you say anything, I know how this looks.”
I folded my arms.
“How does it look?”
“Like I betrayed you.”
“You did.”
She flinched.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I was stupid.”
“That's not enough.”
She looked at Mara.
Then she started talking.
Victor had financed her business.
When she couldn't repay him, he threatened to take everything.
Then he offered her a deal.
Help Daniel pressure me.
Help create evidence against me.
Help convince me to sign the documents.
And in exchange, Victor would erase Ashley's debts.
“You agreed.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know about Emma?”
Ashley began crying.
“I didn't know they would lock her outside.”
“But you filmed it.”
“I was supposed to make it look like you didn't care.”
She handed over her phone.
The original video.
The version I saw had laughter and seafood.
This one contained everything before and after.
Olivia telling Ashley to start recording.
Daniel checking the balcony.
Ashley asking:
“What if she cries?”
Olivia answering:
“Let her.”
Then Daniel said:
“Keep the door locked.”
My stomach turned.
Ashley looked at me.
“I should have stopped them.”
“Yes.”
“I was afraid.”
“So was Teresa.”
Ashley nodded.
“I know.”
She placed another phone on the table.
“I recorded Victor.”
We played it.
Victor's voice.
“You're running out of time.”
Daniel:
“I need more time.”
Victor:
“No. The acquisition closes in ten days.”
Daniel:
“What if she refuses?”
Victor:
“Then the custody case becomes public.”
Silence.
Then Victor said:
“And if that fails?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Victor continued.
“Then we use the last contingency.”
Mara stopped the recording.
“What is the last contingency?”
Ashley looked at us.
“I don't know.”
But something about the fear in her face told me she did.
“What aren't you telling me?”
Ashley whispered:
“They wanted to make you disappear.”
The room went silent.
Mara stood.
“Explain.”
Ashley shook her head.
“I don't know how.”
“Tell us what you heard.”
“There was a meeting.”
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“Who was there?”
“Victor. Olivia. Daniel. Richard.”
“Anyone else?”
Ashley hesitated.
“My mother said someone inside the company could make it look like you resigned.”
I stared.
“Who?”
“She didn't say.”
Mara asked:
“Where was the meeting?”
Ashley gave us an address.
We traced it.
A private club.
The same club where my father had met Victor decades earlier.
We found security footage.
The meeting was real.
And someone else was there.
The company's chief financial officer.
I stared at the screen.
“No.”
Mara looked at me.
“We need to investigate him.”
The next morning, the CFO resigned.
No explanation.
No warning.
He vanished.
His company phone was destroyed.
His home was empty.
Then the police discovered something.
A second bank account.
Millions had been transferred through it.
Some of the money had come from my accounts.
Some had gone to Victor.
And some had gone somewhere else.
A place no one recognized.
Mara traced the destination.
It belonged to a nonprofit foundation.
A child protection organization.
I stared at the name.
“Why would my money go there?”
Mara opened the records.
The foundation had one director.
A woman named Clara Greene.
My mother's younger sister.
My aunt.
She had not spoken to me in fifteen years.
I thought she hated me.
Now I wondered why.
That night, Clara called.
“Sarah.”
I had not heard her voice in years.
“Why did you receive money from my accounts?”
Silence.
Then:
“Because your mother asked me to.”
My heart stopped.
“When?”
“Before she died.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew they would come for you.”
I closed my eyes.
“What did she want you to do?”
May you like
Clara whispered:
“Hide the evidence.”
