Chapter 14 - The Family Vote
The missing account contained two hundred thousand dollars.
Thomas had never created it.
Nina traced the source.
The money came from Emily’s stolen life insurance payment.
Robert had placed part of it in Rebecca’s name to hide it from creditors.
The account had been emptied by Denise.
Thomas looked toward his sister.
Denise stood beneath the garden lights.
Her face collapsed.
“I can explain.”
Thomas handed the phone to Nolan.
“Where did the money go?”
Denise began crying.
“Dad told me the account belonged to him.”
“You saw Rebecca’s name.”
“He said it was temporary.”
“You withdrew money from a child’s account.”
“My husband needs surgery.”
Thomas’s anger softened, but only slightly.
“You could have asked me.”
“I was ashamed.”
“So you stole from my daughter.”
Denise covered her face.
“I thought Dad would replace it.”
Peter laughed bitterly.
“He promised all of us he would replace everything.”
Thomas looked around at the remaining relatives.
Some had enabled Robert.
Some had remained silent.
A few had helped the children.
Mrs. Alvarez had given them water when Helen was not watching.
Madison had tried to stop Cole.
Peter had preserved Robert’s investment emails.
Thomas realized family was not divided by blood.
It was divided by choices.
The next morning, Northline’s emergency board meeting took place inside the mansion’s library.
Robert had held an honorary chairman position.
Helen controlled the family charitable foundation.
Thomas requested immediate votes to remove them.
Several relatives protested.
Uncle Lawrence stood.
“This scandal should remain private.”
Thomas looked at him.
“My children were humiliated in front of eighty guests.”
“There is nothing private left to protect.”
Lawrence lowered his voice.
“Think about the family name.”
Thomas placed the black ledger on the table.
“This is what Robert did in the name of family.”
“He listed your debts.”
“Your secrets.”
“Your weaknesses.”
“He did not love this family.”
“He managed it like a collection of hostages.”
No one answered.
The board removed Robert unanimously.
Helen lost control of the foundation.
Thomas ordered an independent audit of every account.
He also created a repayment fund for relatives who had been deceived.
Peter looked surprised.
“You do not owe us that money.”
“No.”
“But some people invested because my name was used.”
“I will help them recover.”
“I will not protect anyone who knowingly participated.”
Denise returned the remaining money from Rebecca’s account.
The portion spent on her husband’s surgery became a formal loan.
Thomas did not forgive her immediately.
He also did not destroy her family to prove a point.
Cole was required to delete every post, issue a public apology, and perform community service under court supervision.
Madison gave police copies of messages Cole had tried to erase.
Before leaving the library, she approached Rebecca.
“I should have helped sooner.”
Rebecca looked at her.
“You laughed at first.”
Madison lowered her eyes.
“I know.”
Rebecca did not accept the apology.
Not yet.
Thomas respected that.
As the board members left, Nolan handed Thomas a sealed envelope found inside Robert’s safe.
It was addressed to Thomas.
The handwriting belonged to Emily.
Thomas opened it.
Inside was one final letter.
May you like
The first sentence stopped his breath.
Thomas, if you are reading this, your father finally became afraid of you.
