Chapter 4 - The Good Son
Garrick had not always been greedy.
At least, that was what Elena told herself.
As a child, he gave away his winter coat to a classmate and came home shivering. At university, he volunteered after a hurricane. When Richard became ill, Garrick flew home every weekend for two months.
But after Richard’s death, something inside him shifted.
He expected inheritance to arrive as compensation for grief.
When Elena explained that Richard’s estate had passed primarily into a trust designed to protect the family’s properties and charitable commitments, Garrick accused her of controlling money that should have been his.
“You own everything,” he said at the time.
“I manage what your father and I built.”
“For how long?”
“As long as I’m alive.”
He apologized the next morning, but the question never truly disappeared.
Sabrina entered his life a year later.
She was beautiful, socially skilled, and always certain that Garrick deserved more. She encouraged his business ventures, introduced him to investors, and blamed every failure on people who had failed to recognize his talent.
Elena had mistaken that devotion for love.
Now she saw how effectively Sabrina transformed resentment into entitlement.
During the investigation, Elena continued hosting family dinners and attending foundation events. She pretended not to notice when Sabrina searched drawers or asked staff members about account statements.
Meanwhile, Victor traced payments.
Sabrina had purchased the three-thousand-dollar handbag using Elena’s household card after convincing a bank representative that she was Elena’s personal assistant.
She had also charged jewelry, clothing, spa treatments, and luxury hotel stays.
Garrick’s spending was worse.
He had paid debts from his failed company, transferred money to Bluebonnet, and hired the medical consultant.
Clara obtained security footage from the mailbox store connected to Bluebonnet. It showed Garrick collecting company correspondence.
The evidence was no longer circumstantial.
Elena watched the footage alone in Richard’s office.
Her son entered the store wearing a baseball cap. He signed for an envelope, placed it under his jacket, and looked over his shoulder before leaving.
Elena replayed the video twice.
Then she closed the computer.
That evening, Garrick found her in the courtyard and handed her a glass of wine.
“You’ve been distant.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“We should spend more time together.”
Elena looked at him.
There were faint shadows beneath his eyes. He seemed tired, almost frightened.
For one dangerous moment, she wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to give him the opportunity to confess, apologize, and become the boy she remembered.
Instead, she asked, “Are you happy?”
He appeared surprised.
“With Sabrina?”
“With yourself.”
Garrick looked toward the pool.
“I will be when I’m not living in my mother’s guest room.”
“You could find a job.”
“I’m rebuilding.”
“With what money?”
His jaw tightened.
“Is this an interrogation?”
“It was a question.”
“I don’t need another lecture about responsibility.”
Elena set down her untouched wine.
“No. You need to decide whether the person you are becoming is someone you can live with.”
He gave a humorless laugh.
“You’ve always been good at making everyone feel small.”
“I spent years making excuses for you.”
“Because you never believed in me.”
“I believed in you longer than you believed in yourself.”
Garrick’s face changed.
For a second, Elena saw shame.
Then Sabrina called from the terrace.
“Garrick, I need you.”
He turned toward her immediately.
Before leaving, he looked back at Elena.
“You should think about signing the new estate-management plan.”
“What plan?”
“The one that protects you.”
“From whom?”
He did not answer.
Later that night, Elena received an alert from the courtyard security system.
At 2:13 in the morning, Garrick entered Richard’s office using a copied key.
Elena watched through a hidden camera as he opened the property cabinet.
This time, she did not cry.
She called Clara.
“Move forward,” Elena said.
“Are you certain?”
May you like
“Yes.”
“My son has made his choice.”
