Chapter 12 - What Vivian Had Hidden
Vivian refused to speak until Eleanor entered the conference room.
She sat alone at the long table, still wearing the clothes from breakfast.
The confidence that had defined her all weekend was gone.
Eleanor placed the photograph between them.
Vivian looked at it once and turned away.
“Who took this?” Eleanor asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Why was Rebecca at Lake Ardent two years after you said she left the country?”
Vivian stared toward the window.
“Your father filled your head with stories.”
“He left bank records, recordings, and photographs.”
“He always needed to look innocent.”
“Innocent of what?”
Vivian’s mouth tightened.
Eleanor leaned forward.
“What happened to my mother?”
“She was not the woman you imagined.”
“I never had the chance to imagine her. You removed every photograph.”
“She was reckless.”
“Did she abandon me?”
Vivian did not answer.
“That is a simple question.”
“No,” Vivian said.
The word was nearly inaudible.
Eleanor sat back.
For thirty-two years, one of the central facts of her life had been a lie.
“Where did she go?”
“Harold helped her leave.”
“Why?”
“Because she discovered things.”
“What things?”
“The company was already in trouble. There were loans, private investors, agreements your father had never told me about.”
“That does not explain why Rebecca disappeared.”
“She threatened to expose us.”
“Us?”
Vivian looked at the photograph.
“Vale House was not originally Harold’s company.”
Eleanor waited.
“Rebecca’s father financed the first properties,” Vivian continued. “When he died, ownership should have passed partly to Rebecca. Harold convinced her to sign temporary management papers.”
“Temporary?”
“They became permanent.”
“You took her inheritance.”
“Harold did.”
“You benefited from it.”
Vivian’s eyes flashed.
“I protected the family.”
“You always call theft protection.”
“She was going to destroy everything.”
“So you threatened her?”
“I told her that if she challenged the company, she might lose custody of you.”
Eleanor felt the room become very still.
“You used me to silence her.”
“She was unstable.”
“Was she?”
Vivian looked away again.
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“She contacted Harold years later. He met her here. After that, he refused to discuss her with me.”
“What did Caleb know?”
“Only that Rebecca had a claim against the company.”
“Why did you tell Harold that Caleb could reveal what happened?”
“Because Harold was afraid you would discover how Vale House began.”
“That isn’t all.”
Vivian said nothing.
Eleanor opened the red ledger and placed it beside the photograph.
“You diverted thirty-one million dollars. Caleb and Maya helped you. You forged my authorization and attempted to seize control of my company.”
“Vale House would have collapsed without that money.”
“Grayhaven had already saved it.”
“Your father was going to give the company to employees.”
“He should have.”
“You say that because you have everything.”
“No. I say it because the employees built the company while you treated it like a personal account.”
Vivian’s eyes filled, but Eleanor felt no satisfaction.
“You could stop the investigation,” Vivian said.
“No.”
“I’m your mother.”
“You made that title a weapon.”
“I raised you.”
“You taught me that love could be withdrawn whenever I refused to obey.”
Vivian’s voice hardened.
“And now you want revenge.”
Eleanor closed the ledger.
“I want the original will honored. I want the stolen money recovered. I want the employees protected, and I want the truth about Rebecca.”
“You will tear this family apart.”
Eleanor stood.
“This family was built around secrets. I’m only opening the doors.”
As she reached the exit, Vivian spoke.
“Rebecca had another child.”
Eleanor stopped.
“When?”
“After she left.”
“Who was the father?”
May you like
Vivian’s face became unreadable.
“Ask Adrian.”
