Chapter 12 - Julian's Last Lie
Julian was arrested that evening.
Claire didn't visit him.
Chloe tried.
Federal agents stopped her.
By Monday, investigators had reconstructed enough of the scheme to understand most of it.
Julian had discovered the historic Morgan fraud two years earlier.
Instead of reporting it, he created new shell vendors using the same structure.
Chloe helped approve them.
At first, she claimed she believed they were legitimate.
Later, she knew they weren't.
The affair began during the scheme.
Daniel Vale discovered the theft.
He blackmailed Julian, demanding money and evidence about Thomas Vale's death.
Julian paid.
Then he began planning an escape.
The fake kidnapping had been designed to accomplish three things.
Make Julian appear to be a victim.
Move four million dollars out of Morgan Industrial.
And blame Daniel.
It failed because investigators found warehouse surveillance faster than Julian expected.
Claire sat across from Chloe inside the family home.
"You knew about the kidnapping?"
"No."
"Don't lie."
"I didn't."
Claire believed her.
That didn't absolve her.
"You helped steal."
Chloe cried.
"Julian said we'd put it back."
"You gave him my security token."
"I know."
"You lied to me for almost a year."
"I know."
"You slept with my husband."
Chloe looked down.
Claire's voice remained steady.
"You didn't make one mistake. You made hundreds of decisions."
"I'm sorry."
"Good."
Chloe looked up hopefully.
Claire continued.
"You'll have plenty of time to think about being sorry."
"What does that mean?"
"You're terminated."
Chloe stared.
"Claire."
"Your company access is permanently revoked."
"Dad owns shares."
"Not enough to override me."
"Mom?"
"No."
"You're destroying my life."
Claire almost laughed.
"No."
She stood.
"I'm refusing to keep rebuilding it for you."
Chloe's face twisted.
"You always hated me."
Claire stopped at the doorway.
"I loved you enough to forgive things I should never have forgiven."
She opened the door.
"That's over."
It was the most satisfying sentence Claire had spoken all week.
But satisfaction didn't mean peace.
That night, Samuel arrived.
He carried a sealed envelope.
"What is it?"
"Your grandfather's private papers."
"Where did you find them?"
"Safe-deposit box."
Claire stared.
"Why now?"
"Because the bank contacted me after federal investigators issued document preservation requests."
Claire opened the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Robert Morgan was named on the front.
But it had never been delivered.
Claire read the first line.
Robert,
If Thomas Vale ever discovers what Gerald and I have done, you must protect Claire.
She stopped.
"Why me?"
Samuel shook his head.
Claire continued.
Thomas believes the money is the secret.
It isn't.
The money was necessary because of Claire.
May you like
Claire dropped the letter.
She had been seven years old when Thomas Vale died.
