Chapter 12 - THE BETRAYAL
David turned toward Nathan.
“What is she talking about?”
Nathan said nothing.
Vanessa laughed as police officers broke through the basement door.
“Search him,” she told them. “He has the original documents.”
Nathan tried to move, but an officer grabbed him.
A sealed envelope fell from his coat.
David picked it up.
The name on the front belonged to his mother.
He opened it.
Inside was a copy of his mother’s will.
The document stated that David was not supposed to inherit the family fortune until he turned thirty-five.
Until then, the estate would be managed by a trustee.
The trustee’s name was Nathan Reed.
David stared at him.
“You controlled the money before I did?”
Nathan lowered his head.
“Your mother trusted me.”
“And you stole from me.”
“I borrowed it.”
“Twelve million dollars is not borrowing.”
“I invested it.”
“Into what?”
Nathan’s silence was enough.
Vanessa spoke from behind the officers.
“Into my company.”
David turned toward her.
“You and Nathan were working together before we married.”
“Yes.”
“You chose me because of the inheritance.”
Vanessa smiled.
“I chose you because your mother believed you were too soft to survive without us.”
David felt something inside him break.
Every dinner.
Every argument.
Every moment Vanessa had pretended to love him.
All of it had been calculated.
Nathan looked at David.
“I didn’t know she planned to kill you.”
“But you helped her steal.”
“I thought we were taking control of the estate temporarily.”
“You framed Lily.”
“That was Vanessa.”
“You let Emily disappear.”
Nathan’s face collapsed.
“I was afraid.”
David stared at him.
“So was Lily. So was Emily. But they still told the truth.”
The police handcuffed Nathan.
Vanessa watched him being taken away.
For the first time, she looked alone.
Then her eyes moved to David.
“You think this ends with me in prison?”
David said nothing.
She leaned toward him.
“The trust has one final condition.”
“What condition?”
“If you accuse me publicly, the remaining money goes to someone else.”
David’s brow furrowed.
“Who?”
May you like
Vanessa smiled.
CLIFFHANGER: “Your father,” she said. “The man you believed died before you were born.”
