Chapter 11 - EVELYN’S SAFE
Miriam knew where Evelyn’s old private safe was stored.
After her death, several personal effects had been transferred to a secure archive beneath Hale Holdings.
Howard had never bothered opening it.
He believed the key was lost.
Liam’s brass key fit perfectly.
Inside were journals, financial records and a small tape recorder.
Robert pressed play.
His mother’s voice filled the room.
“Robert, if you hear this, I failed to tell you while I was alive.”
Robert gripped the desk.
Evelyn explained that Howard arranged Robert’s accident.
Not to kill him.
To delay him.
Robert had been traveling to marry Lydia secretly.
Howard paid a mechanic to damage the steering system enough to cause a breakdown.
But the car crashed instead.
Howard had not planned the severity.
He simply used the accident afterward.
He told Lydia Robert abandoned her.
He told Robert Lydia and the baby died.
Then Evelyn discovered what he had done.
“I confronted him,” her recording continued.
“He told me the Hale name required sacrifices.”
Robert whispered, “My God.”
But Evelyn had uncovered another conspirator.
Nathan Pierce.
Current chairman of Hale Holdings.
Back then, Nathan had been Howard’s junior financial officer.
He arranged the payments.
Olivia stiffened.
Nathan was practically family.
He attended birthdays.
Christmas dinners.
Her graduation.
Sarah looked at Robert.
“If Nathan helped eighteen years ago, he knows Liam can claim the shares.”
Robert nodded.
“And he currently controls the board.”
Liam understood.
“If I become legally recognized, Nathan loses control.”
The office door suddenly opened.
Robert’s assistant stood there, pale.
“Mr. Hale…”
“What?”
She handed him her phone.
Hale Holdings stock was crashing.
A news story had just appeared online.
ROBERT HALE’S SECRET SON ACCUSED OF EXTORTION.
May you like
Liam stared at the headline.
Nathan had made the first move.
