Chapter 10 - PRESTON’S LAST LIE
Two weeks after the wedding, Preston changed tactics.
He went public.
His attorney released a statement claiming the CCTV footage had been “misinterpreted.”
Then Preston agreed to a television interview.
Rachel told me not to watch.
I watched anyway.
Preston sat beneath studio lights wearing a dark suit.
No handcuffs.
No anger.
Just carefully rehearsed sadness.
“My family is going through a painful misunderstanding.”
The interviewer asked about Sophie.
Preston lowered his eyes.
“I love my niece.”
I nearly threw the remote.
He claimed he had placed his phone in Sophie’s pocket as a joke.
He claimed he later forgot.
He claimed the board strike was an accident during a heated argument.
Then he attacked me.
“My sister has always resented my success.”
There it was.
The story he had told our family for thirty years.
Evelyn was jealous.
Evelyn was emotional.
Evelyn caused problems.
The interviewer asked about the company investigation.
Preston smiled sadly.
“Unfortunately, Evelyn is using a family tragedy to attempt a corporate takeover.”
I turned off the television.
Rachel called thirty seconds later.
“Please tell me you didn’t watch.”
“I watched.”
“Don’t respond.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
That surprised her.
“Good.”
“Because we don’t need to.”
The full CCTV footage was released through court records the next morning.
Not by me.
Not by Rachel.
Through the normal legal process.
Within hours, millions of people saw Preston approach Sophie’s chair.
They saw him look around.
They saw his hand enter his jacket.
They saw him place the phone in her pocket.
Then they saw him “discover” it later.
His interview collapsed instantly.
But the footage of the attack remained restricted because Sophie was a minor.
I was grateful for that.
She did not need strangers replaying the worst moment of her life.
The public reaction reached Carter Development.
Clients demanded answers.
Board members demanded permanent changes.
Preston’s allies disappeared.
Then the financial investigation produced its biggest discovery.
The shell companies receiving Carter Development money were connected to one person.
My father.
Not Preston.
My father.
Rachel placed the records in front of me.
“Preston wasn’t working alone.”
I stared at the transfers.
Millions of dollars.
Years of transactions.
“Dad taught him.”
“That appears likely.”
Suddenly the family dynamic made horrible sense.
My father hadn’t protected Preston because he loved him more.
Not entirely.
He protected Preston because Preston protected him.
Their secrets were tied together.
My mother had spent decades defending both of them.
I had been the outsider because I wasn’t part of the arrangement.
Rachel leaned back.
“There will probably be another arrest.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
My phone rang.
Dad.
I answered.
He didn’t say hello.
“Meet me.”
“No.”
“Evelyn, please.”
“Talk to your lawyer.”
“This isn’t about the investigation.”
“What is it about?”
“Sophie.”
My blood went cold.
“What about Sophie?”
“I know something Preston hasn’t told anyone.”
I stood.
“What?”
May you like
My father’s voice shook.
“The wedding wasn’t the first time he tried to frame her.”
