Chapter 19 - Arthur’s Confession
Arthur was waiting when Victoria returned.
He had heard about Grant’s demand from Evelyn.
“There’s something else,” he said.
During his marriage, Arthur had secretly used Meridian’s corporate account to fund several unsuccessful real estate projects.
Victoria knew about the hotels and jewelry.
She did not know about the companies.
Arthur had transferred money through four shell corporations. Grant later purchased the debts attached to those companies.
“He owned me before Brooke became pregnant,” Arthur admitted.
Grant had threatened to expose Arthur’s financial misconduct unless he introduced him to Meridian clients and board members.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I thought I could fix it before you discovered it.”
“You chose Brooke instead.”
“She made me feel as if none of it mattered.”
Victoria understood.
Brooke had not merely offered Arthur affection. She had offered him a life in which he never had to admit failure.
Arthur handed Victoria a storage key.
Before leaving their home, he had placed old contracts, phones and transaction records in a private facility. He had kept them as protection against Grant.
“Why are you revealing them now?”
Arthur looked toward the twins’ room.
“Because every lie I protected became something he could use against them.”
At the storage facility, Daniel found a damaged laptop.
One deleted email was partially recovered.
It had been sent from Arthur to Grant three years earlier.
The attachment was titled Meridian Succession Plan.
Arthur denied sending it.
The file listed the exact directors most likely to vote against Victoria.
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At the bottom appeared the name of the person who had prepared the analysis.
Brooke Hayes.
