Chapter 6 - THE MAN BEHIND THE LIES
Thomas was waiting in the old library.
He looked older than the photographs.
But his eyes were sharp.
He stood beside the fireplace.
“You finally came.”
I stopped several feet away.
“You destroyed my life.”
He smiled.
“You still have a dramatic way of speaking.”
“My mother-in-law humiliated me.”
“Yes.”
“My husband betrayed me.”
“Yes.”
“My accident was arranged.”
“Yes.”
My hands trembled.
“Why?”
“Because you were the only person who could stop me.”
“From what?”
“From losing everything.”
“You already had everything.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I had money.”
“That isn't the same.”
“You sound like your mother.”
I froze.
“You knew her.”
“Very well.”
“What did you do to her?”
Thomas looked toward the window.
“She was the only person who ever truly challenged me.”
“She died believing you were a monster.”
“She was right.”
I stared.
He didn't deny it.
“Then why?”
“Because power changes people.”
“You chose power.”
“Yes.”
“And you destroyed your own family.”
“I built it.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“You controlled it.”
Thomas smiled.
“That's what families are.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“Families are supposed to protect each other.”
He laughed.
“That's why you'll never understand business.”
I felt disgust.
“You know what I understand?”
“What?”
“I understand why everyone left you.”
His smile disappeared.
Then the doors opened.
Police entered.
Thomas looked surprised.
My father stepped behind them.
“You should have known we'd record everything.”
Thomas stared at him.
“You betrayed me.”
My father answered:
“No.”
“You broke our agreement.”
“No.”
“You promised.”
“I promised to protect my daughter.”
The police moved toward Thomas.
He raised his hands.
But before they arrested him, he looked at me.
“You think this is over?”
I stared.
“What else could there be?”
He smiled.
“You haven't opened the final account.”
My heart stopped.
“What account?”
Thomas said nothing.
The police took him away.
My father looked at me.
“Final account?”
Anna stepped forward.
“I know where it is.”
The account was hidden inside an old bank.
The documents revealed something shocking.
The original Carter fortune wasn't owned by Thomas.
It wasn't even owned by the family.
It belonged to a trust created by my grandfather.
The beneficiaries were the four children.
Me.
Daniel.
Claire.
Anna.
But there was one additional condition.
The four heirs had to unanimously approve the transfer.
That meant Thomas had never legally owned the fortune.
He had been a trustee.
And he had violated his duty.
Everything he had taken could be recovered.
I looked at my siblings.
“What do we do?”
Daniel answered first.
“Give it back.”
Claire nodded.
“All of it.”
Anna smiled.
“To the people he hurt.”
I looked at my father.
May you like
He smiled.
“Your grandfather would have wanted that.”
