Chapter 8 - The Fall of Richard Hale
The board voted unanimously to suspend Richard.
By noon, he had been formally removed as chief financial officer.
Northstar’s accounts were frozen, preventing the remaining funds from leaving the country. Investigators seized Richard’s office computers and recovered communications showing that he had planned the fraud for nearly two years.
Sabrina was not arrested at the airport.
She was taken to a separate room for questioning.
Without Richard beside her, her confidence disappeared.
She admitted that she had helped create Northstar and arranged payments to the doctors. She claimed Richard had promised to marry her, make her a company executive, and give her control of the research subsidiary.
Then investigators requested proof of her pregnancy.
There was none.
Sabrina had never been pregnant.
The medical appointments paid for by Northstar had been cosmetic treatments and private consultations unrelated to pregnancy.
She had lied because she feared Richard would never leave Clara.
When Richard learned the truth, he reportedly stared at Sabrina for several seconds before beginning to laugh.
The laughter became shouting.
He blamed Sabrina for everything.
She responded by providing investigators with access to their hidden messages and foreign accounts.
Within three weeks, Richard was charged with fraud, conspiracy, identity theft, and attempted theft of corporate assets.
Sabrina accepted a cooperation agreement. She avoided a lengthy prison sentence but lost her career, her apartment, and every benefit purchased with stolen money.
Richard tried to contact Clara through attorneys.
He claimed that stress had changed him. He argued that Sabrina had manipulated him. He said he still loved Clara and wanted to be present for the birth of their daughter.
Clara responded through Naomi.
Richard could communicate only about legally required matters. He would have no access to Clara’s medical information and no place in the delivery room.
During a court hearing, Richard looked directly at her.
“You’re destroying our family.”
Clara remained calm.
“No, Richard. I’m protecting what survived you.”
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The judge granted Clara temporary sole custody after reviewing the forged medical reports and Richard’s plan to have her declared unfit.
For the first time in months, Clara walked out of a building without looking over her shoulder.
