Chapter 4 - The Forgotten Signature
Thirty minutes after Sophia entered the mansion, Dominic sat across from her in the library.
Victoria stood near the fireplace, furious that security officers had refused to obey her.
Paige remained by the doorway, holding her purse.
Sophia arranged the documents with careful precision.
“Two years ago, Vale Development accepted emergency funding from Northstar Capital,” she explained. “In exchange, Northstar received sixty-two percent ownership, control of several assets, and the right to replace executive management if fraud or misconduct threatened the company.”
Dominic stared at the papers.
“I negotiated that agreement with a representative named H. Bennett.”
“H. Bennett was a trust designation honoring Audrey’s late father.”
Victoria shook her head. “Audrey has no connection to an investment company.”
Sophia slid forward the shareholder register.
At the top was Audrey’s full legal name.
Audrey Grace Bennett Vale.
Beneficial owner: Northstar Capital.
Dominic remembered the day the investment agreement had been signed.
Audrey had entered his office carrying lunch. He had barely looked at her before asking her to witness several pages.
“Just sign here,” he had said. “It’s administrative.”
She had asked whether he had read everything.
He had laughed.
“I understand business better than you ever will.”
That forgotten signature had confirmed that Dominic understood and accepted Northstar’s ownership rights.
He had personally witnessed Audrey signing the control acknowledgment.
But he had never bothered to read her name beside the word owner.
Victoria seized the document.
“This is theft.”
“No,” Sophia replied. “It is an investment your son accepted while his company was close to insolvency. Northstar paid the creditors, protected hundreds of jobs, and gave him two years to rebuild.”
Dominic’s face turned pale. “Audrey saved the company?”
“Yes.”
“And the house?”
“Owned by Northstar.”
“My car?”
“Leased through a Northstar subsidiary.”
Victoria’s hand rose toward her necklace.
“My accounts?”
“Several of your personal accounts remain yours. However, the corporate expense card you used for vacations, designer clothing, and payments to private investigators has been suspended.”
Paige took a step away from Dominic.
Sophia opened another folder.
“The preliminary audit has also identified company funds used for gifts, hotel stays, and travel involving Ms. Lawson. Those expenditures will be reviewed.”
Paige looked at Dominic in disbelief.
“You said everything was legally yours.”
“It is,” he insisted weakly.
Sophia stood.
“No, Mr. Vale. You were trusted to manage it.”
Victoria pointed toward the officers. “Audrey is doing this because she wants revenge.”
“Audrey requested only what belongs to her and what is necessary to protect the employees whose livelihoods you endangered.”
The front doors opened again.
This time, Audrey entered.
Her wrist was supported by a cast, and a small bandage rested near her hairline. She wore a simple dark coat over hospital clothes.
Dominic stood so quickly that his chair struck the floor.
“Audrey.”
She looked at him without warmth.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said. “You need to rest.”
“I needed to see the house once more.”
Victoria stepped forward.
“You ungrateful little liar. You hid your money. You trapped us.”
Audrey’s voice remained calm.
“I hid my money because I wanted to know whether Dominic loved me without it.”
“He did love you,” Victoria snapped.
Audrey glanced at Paige.
Paige quietly moved toward the exit.
Dominic approached his wife.
“I didn’t know about the baby.”
“You knew I was in the hospital.”
“My mother said you were fine.”
“And you believed her because it was convenient.”
“I made mistakes.”
“You made choices.”
His eyes filled with panic. “We can repair this.”
Audrey stared at the man she had once trusted.
“You spent tonight celebrating my disappearance.”
Dominic looked down.
“I was confused.”
“No. You were relieved.”
Victoria raised her voice. “Dominic, stop begging. She wants to humiliate us.”
Audrey finally faced her.
“I don’t want your humiliation. I want distance, safety, and accountability.”
She removed Victoria’s note from her coat pocket and placed it on the table.
Accidents happen.
A detective entered behind Audrey.
Victoria’s confidence vanished.
Audrey continued, “The hospital photographed the marks on my arm. The staircase camera also recorded the confrontation.”
Victoria looked toward Dominic.
“It was an accident.”
The detective spoke quietly. “You can explain that during your formal interview.”
May you like
For the first time, Dominic did not defend his mother.
For the first time, Victoria stood completely alone.
