Chapter 8 - The Cost of Telling the Truth
Diane was not arrested in the restaurant.
The investigator informed her that she was the subject of an active financial-crimes inquiry and ordered her not to destroy records or leave the country. Samuel served her with the court order freezing the disputed accounts.
By morning, the scandal reached the company board.
Walter called an emergency meeting. Diane was suspended as president. Her access to corporate systems was revoked. Outside auditors entered the offices before noon.
Annabelle expected relief.
Instead, she felt hollow.
For almost twenty years, Diane had been the person who signed school forms, attended graduations, and sat beside Annabelle when nightmares woke her. Those memories did not disappear simply because the truth had changed their meaning.
Eleanor found her in Thomas’s study, holding one of Diane’s old birthday cards.
“You are allowed to grieve someone who hurt you,” Eleanor said.
“What if part of me still wants her to say she’s sorry?”
“That part of you wanted a mother.”
Annabelle’s eyes filled.
A week later, Diane requested a private meeting through her attorney.
Samuel objected, but Annabelle agreed on the condition that the meeting be recorded.
Diane entered the conference room wearing a plain gray suit. Without the company office, the driver, and the relatives watching her, she looked smaller.
“I protected this family,” she said.
“You protected your position.”
“The company would have collapsed.”
“So you took my parents’ money.”
“I intended to repay it.”
“You had six years after I turned twenty-five.”
Diane’s jaw tightened. “You would have wasted it.”
Annabelle understood then that no apology was coming.
Diane did not believe she had stolen from Annabelle.
She believed Annabelle had never owned anything that Diane could not take.
Annabelle stood.
“This is the last private conversation we will ever have.”
Diane’s face finally cracked.
May you like
“You’ll come back.”
“No,” Annabelle said. “I won’t.”
