Chapter 10 - THE PRICE OF A LIE
By midnight, the celebration had become an investigation.
Guests were asked to leave.
Reporters crowded the road outside the estate.
The family attorney arrived.
So did Sterling Capital's chief compliance officer.
Avery sat upstairs feeding Leo while Liam remained in the library.
For the first time that night, the house was quiet.
Leo opened his eyes.
Avery smiled.
“You caused quite a party.”
He blinked.
She kissed his tiny hand.
There was a knock.
Liam entered.
His bow tie was gone.
His shirt collar was open.
He looked exhausted.
Avery studied him.
“How bad?”
“Bad.”
He sat beside her.
“The technician admitted the report was manipulated.”
“By Victoria?”
“He won't say yet.”
Avery frowned.
“Why?”
“He wants immunity.”
“From what?”
“Fraud.”
Avery looked down at Leo.
“Did your mother know?”
Liam was silent.
That was answer enough.
Avery closed her eyes.
“I kept telling you.”
“I know.”
“For three years.”
“I know.”
“She wasn't just rude to me.”
“I know.”
“She was trying to get rid of me.”
Liam looked at her.
“I know.”
Avery's eyes filled.
“No, Liam.”
“You know now.”
He looked down.
That hurt because it was true.
Avery continued.
“When she excluded me from family photographs, you said she was traditional.”
“When she told the board wives I married you for money, you said she needed time.”
“When she tried to choose our wedding guest list, our house, our son's name—”
“I was wrong.”
Avery stopped.
Liam looked at her.
“I was wrong every time I asked you to ignore it.”
His voice was quiet.
“I thought keeping peace meant keeping everyone in the same room.”
He shook his head.
“But I was really asking you to absorb all the damage so I wouldn't have to confront her.”
Avery stared at him.
It was the first apology she had wanted for three years.
Not flowers.
Not excuses.
Recognition.
Liam touched Leo's blanket.
“I can't undo that.”
“No.”
“But I can stop doing it.”
Avery nodded.
“That matters.”
Another knock came.
Thomas stood outside.
“Sorry.”
Liam looked at him.
“What happened?”
“The technician talked.”
Avery stood.
Thomas handed Liam a printed statement.
Liam read it.
His expression hardened.
Avery watched his eyes move down the page.
Then stop.
“What?”
Liam looked at Thomas.
“This says the payment didn't come from my mother.”
Thomas nodded.
Avery frowned.
“Then who paid him?”
Liam handed her the paper.
The authorization had come from Sterling Capital.
Executive account.
Authorized by the chairman.
Avery looked up.
“Richard?”
Liam's jaw tightened.
Thomas nodded.
“Your uncle ordered the report changed.”
The bedroom door suddenly opened.
Richard stood there.
Nobody had heard him approach.
His expression was completely calm.
“You weren't supposed to find that tonight.”
Liam stepped in front of Avery and Leo.
“Why?”
May you like
Richard looked at the baby.
“Because your mother was never the real threat.”
