Chapter 8 - THE MOTHER WHO CHOSE THE EMPIRE
The police copied Eleanor’s video immediately.
A statewide alert was issued for her vehicle.
Grant Holloway’s photograph appeared on every officer’s phone.
The hospital placed armed guards outside my room.
But none of it made me feel safe.
Because Eleanor had spoken with complete confidence.
She believed she could still win.
Julian stood near the window speaking with the detective.
“I want every Foster security account frozen.”
“You cannot interfere with evidence.”
“I am preventing Grant from accessing company money.”
“Then do it through your legal department.”
Julian called the chief financial officer.
“Freeze all emergency accounts controlled by corporate security.”
The man on the other end hesitated.
“Eleanor authorized those accounts.”
“I am the chief executive.”
“Your mother is chairwoman.”
“Not anymore.”
The room went silent.
Julian continued.
“Call an emergency board meeting.”
“Remove Eleanor from every active position.”
“Effective immediately.”
He ended the call.
Madison stood near the door.
“You think the board will support you?”
“They will when they see the recording.”
“They are afraid of her.”
“So was I.”
Julian looked toward me.
“Not anymore.”
A police officer approached Madison.
“We need your full statement.”
Madison nodded.
Before leaving, she looked at me.
“I know you hate me.”
“I do not hate you.”
That seemed to hurt her more.
I continued.
“I just do not trust you.”
“You should not.”
She swallowed.
“But I never wanted this.”
“You wanted my husband.”
“Yes.”
The honesty surprised me.
“I wanted his attention.”
“I wanted his life.”
“I convinced myself your marriage was already over.”
She looked down.
“Then Eleanor showed me photographs of you alone.”
“She told me you had abandoned him.”
“She said Julian needed someone stronger.”
“And you believed her.”
“I believed what I wanted to believe.”
Julian looked away.
Madison’s voice broke.
“The kiss was not the first boundary we crossed.”
I turned toward Julian.
His face went pale.
“What does that mean?”
Madison continued before he could speak.
“We had private dinners.”
“We exchanged messages late at night.”
“He complained about the marriage.”
“I listened.”
Julian stepped forward.
“Madison.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“She deserves the truth.”
I stared at him.
“Did you sleep with her?”
“No.”
His answer came immediately.
Madison nodded.
“He did not.”
“But he let me believe there might be a future.”
Julian’s expression tightened.
“I never promised you anything.”
“You did not have to.”
“You looked for me every time you felt disappointed in Audrey.”
My eyes burned.
Julian turned to me.
“I am sorry.”
I laughed softly.
“You keep saying that as though each new truth is smaller than the last.”
“It was emotional betrayal.”
“Yes.”
Madison looked at me.
“I knew your anniversary was that night.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
“I scheduled his meetings.”
“I knew you were coming.”
Julian turned sharply.
“You told me Audrey had canceled dinner.”
Madison nodded.
“I lied.”
The room became painfully still.
I stared at her.
“You knew I was coming.”
“Yes.”
“You kissed him because you wanted me to see.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Yes.”
Julian looked sick.
Madison continued.
“I thought if you left, he would finally choose me.”
“And did Eleanor tell you to do that?”
“No.”
“That was my decision.”
For the first time, I felt anger burn hotter than grief.
“You destroyed my marriage because you wanted a promotion in his life.”
Madison flinched.
“I know.”
“No.”
“You know now because you are afraid.”
“You did not care when I was the one being destroyed.”
She lowered her head.
I turned away.
The doctor entered to check the monitors.
“The contractions are slowing.”
Relief moved through the room.
“But you need to remain hospitalized.”
“How long?”
“At least several days.”
Julian returned to my side.
“I will stay.”
I looked at him.
“You need to deal with your mother.”
“My security team can—”
“Your security team attacked me.”
His face tightened.
“You are right.”
“I need you to find out what else Eleanor has done.”
“What do you mean?”
“Grant said the company never belonged to you.”
Madison looked up.
“He said that?”
“Yes.”
Her expression became alarmed.
“There is something you need to know.”
Julian turned toward her.
“What?”
“Your mother has been moving money out of Foster Meridian.”
“How much?”
“I do not know.”
“She used fake consulting firms.”
“Grant handled the payments.”
Julian’s eyes narrowed.
“Why would she do that?”
Madison glanced at me.
“Because she expected Julian to lose control of the company.”
“When?”
“After the twins were born.”
The room went quiet.
Julian’s voice became cold.
“Explain.”
Madison took a breath.
“Eleanor planned to use Audrey’s disappearance against you.”
“She was collecting records of your drinking.”
“Missed meetings.”
“Therapy appointments.”
“Everything.”
“She intended to prove you were unstable.”
“For what purpose?”
“To remove you as chief executive.”
Julian stared at her.
“And the children?”
“She wanted the heirs under her control.”
I felt sick.
“She did not want the babies because she loved them.”
“No,” Madison said.
“She wanted them because Foster family trusts transfer voting power through bloodline succession.”
Julian looked stunned.
“My father’s succession clause.”
Madison nodded.
“If Julian had two sons, Eleanor could control their shares until adulthood.”
I looked at him.
“So this was never only about custody.”
“No.”
His voice was hollow.
“It was about the company.”
The detective returned.
“We located Eleanor’s car.”
“Where?” Julian asked.
“Abandoned near the airport.”
“Was she on a flight?”
“No.”
“She switched vehicles.”
The detective placed a printed image on the table.
It showed Eleanor entering a black SUV.
Grant Holloway was driving.
Madison stared at it.
“They are together.”
The detective nodded.
“And they took someone with them.”
He placed another image beside the first.
The photograph showed a man being pushed into the back seat.
Julian froze.
“That is my father.”
I looked at him.
“Your father?”
“Charles Foster has been in private medical care for two years.”
“I thought he had dementia.”
Julian picked up the photograph.
“He was not supposed to be able to travel.”
Madison whispered.
“Maybe that is another lie.”
Julian’s phone rang.
Unknown Number.
He answered.
Eleanor’s voice filled the room.
“Julian.”
“Where is Dad?”
“Safe.”
“You took a sick man from a medical facility.”
“Your father is not sick.”
Julian stopped breathing.
Eleanor continued.
“He has been kept silent because he knows what I did.”
“What did you do?”
“You will find out soon.”
“If you survive long enough to ask him.”
The call ended.
Julian lowered the phone slowly.
Then the hospital monitor beside me began sounding an alarm.
May you like
The doctor looked at the screen.
“One baby’s heart rate is dropping.”
