Chapter 9 - RICHARD HALELaura gave us a box of records.
Emails.
Bank statements.
Photographs.
Audio recordings.
And one video.
It showed Richard Hale sitting in a dim room.
He looked older than the man in my father's photograph, but unmistakably him.
He stared into the camera.
“If you're watching this, Victoria already knows.”
My skin prickled.
Richard continued.
“She believes I disappeared because I was afraid.”
He laughed bitterly.
“I disappeared because I was planning to expose her.”
The video revealed everything.
Victoria had orchestrated the embezzlement.
She had used shell companies.
She had manipulated Richard's business partners.
Then she created evidence pointing toward my father.
But Richard had kept copies.
He knew the truth.
And he knew Victoria would come after him.
So he vanished.
But Julian hadn't known.
Or perhaps he had known only part of it.
Richard continued:
“My son believes your father destroyed me.”
I covered my mouth.
“That is the lie Victoria raised him on.”
Then the video ended.
Laura looked at me.
“You understand now?”
I nodded.
“They wanted my family name.”
“And your money.”
“And the trust.”
Laura nodded.
“But there is one thing I never understood.”
“What?”
“Why did Victoria arrange for you to marry Julian instead of simply taking your money?”
I looked at Mr. Carter.
He answered.
“Because the trust only becomes accessible after a legal marriage lasting at least twelve months.”
My stomach twisted.
“Twelve months?”
“Yes.”
I suddenly remembered something Julian had said during our engagement.
Just give me one year, Elena. Then we'll build everything together.
I had thought it was romantic.
It had been a deadline.
They needed me married for one year.
Pregnant if possible.
Dependent if necessary.
And compliant above all.
I whispered:
“They weren't planning to throw me out.”
“No,” Mr. Carter said.
“They were planning to keep me.”
That night, a package arrived.
Inside was my wedding veil.
I stared at it.
Something had been sewn inside the lace.
A tiny memory card.
I inserted it into my laptop.
The screen showed Julian.
He was sitting beside Victoria.
They were talking about me.
I watched silently.
Victoria said:
“She has no idea what the trust contains.”
Julian replied:
“She doesn't need to know.”
Then Victoria smiled.
“Once the first transfer clears, she won't have enough money to fight us.”
My hands went numb.
“How much?”
Julian answered:
“Twenty-five million.”
I stopped breathing.
My parents had never told me the true value of my trust.
Victoria knew.
Julian knew.
And apparently, they were already planning to drain it.
Then Julian looked directly toward the camera.
His voice lowered.
“And if she tries to leave?”
May you like
Victoria smiled.
“We make sure everyone believes she was unstable.”
