Chapter 8: The Name Nobody Expected
The mansion was silent after Evelyn said those words.
Not peaceful.
Silent like the moment before a storm.
Everyone waited.
The employees.
Martin.
Me.
Even Richard.
Because one question remained.
Who had helped him?
Evelyn looked at the document again.
“Tell me this is wrong.””
Martin shook his head.
“I verified the records.””
“Whose account?””
Martin hesitated.
“Your family trust.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
Evelyn sat down slowly.
For the first time that day, she looked tired.
Not weak.
Just tired.
Richard noticed.
And somehow, that made him angry.
“You see?””
He pointed at her.
“You still don’t understand.””
Evelyn looked up.
“What don’t I understand?””
“That I had help because I needed help.””
“No.””
Her voice was calm.
“You had help because someone wanted you to succeed.””
Richard laughed.
“Exactly.””
“Why?””
The question stopped him.
Because he didn’t have an answer.
Evelyn stood.
“Why would someone secretly move money into your accounts?””
Richard looked away.
Martin closed the folder.
“There is another detail.””
Everyone turned.
“What detail?”” Evelyn asked.
Martin pulled out another document.
“The transfers began six months before you stepped away from the company.””
Evelyn frowned.
“That’s impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Richard did not have authority over those accounts then.””
Martin nodded.
“Correct.””
I felt a chill.
“So someone else started this.””
Martin looked at Evelyn.
“Yes.””
Richard suddenly spoke.
“Enough.””
His voice was sharp.
Everyone looked at him.
“You’re all acting like I’m the only person with secrets.””
Evelyn studied him.
“Are you saying someone else was involved?””
Richard smiled.
A dangerous smile.
“I’m saying you should be careful about digging.””
Evelyn walked closer.
“Is that a threat?””
“No.””
He looked at the documents.
“It’s advice.””
I stepped forward.
“After everything you did, you still think you’re in control?””
Richard looked at me.
“You have no idea what’s happening.””
“Then explain.””
He didn’t.
Because he couldn’t.
Ava quietly spoke.
“Why did you hate me?””
The room went still.
Richard looked at her.
For a moment, he looked surprised.
Like he had forgotten she was there.
A child.
A witness.
A person.
“I didn’t hate you.””
Ava wiped her eyes.
“Then why did you make me eat there?””
Richard looked uncomfortable.
“I was teaching you.””
“No.””
Her voice was small.
But strong.
“You wanted me to feel bad.””
Nobody spoke.
Evelyn looked at Richard.
And I saw something break inside her.
Not because Ava was hurt.
Because her son was the person who caused it.
Richard looked away.
“Children don’t understand complicated things.””
Ava held my hand tighter.
“I understood.””
That sentence destroyed whatever excuse he had left.
Evelyn turned away from him.
“Martin.””
“Yes?””
“Find everything.””
Richard looked up.
“What?””
“Every transaction.””
Evelyn continued.
“Every contract.””
“Mom—”
“Every person connected to this.””
Richard’s expression changed.
“You’re investigating me?””
Evelyn looked at him.
“No.””
She paused.
“I’m investigating what happened to my family.””
Richard laughed bitterly.
“You mean what happened to your reputation.””
“No.””
Evelyn looked at Ava.
“My reputation survived many things.””
Then she looked back at Richard.
“My family may not have.””
That was the first time Richard looked ashamed.
Only for a second.
Then his phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed immediately.
I noticed.
“What is it?””
He locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
Evelyn extended her hand.
“Show me.””
“No.””
The answer came instantly.
Martin stepped closer.
“Mr. Hawthorne.””
Richard looked at him.
“This is private.””
Martin nodded.
“Then why do you look terrified?””
Richard said nothing.
Evelyn took the phone from his hand before he could stop her.
She read the message.
Then she froze.
Her face became pale.
I had never seen Evelyn Hawthorne look afraid.
Not until that moment.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
She didn’t answer.
She handed me the phone.
The message was from Claire Bennett.
Three words.
*“He knows too.””*
And underneath it was a second message.
A photo attachment.
A photo of Ava.
May you like
Taken inside the mansion.
That same day.
