Chapter 10 - The Missing Millions
Nora was taken to St. Catherine’s Medical Center under federal protection.
The doctors determined that her bleeding came from stress and a minor placental complication.
The baby’s heartbeat remained strong.
Labor had not begun, but Nora was ordered to stay overnight.
Ethan was not allowed into her room.
He sat handcuffed to a chair outside while federal agents questioned him.
Nora could see him through the glass panel.
For six years, he had been the person she trusted most.
Now armed officers stood between them.
Maya sat beside Nora’s bed, waiting for news about her brother.
Celeste stood near the window, still wearing her wet wedding gown beneath a hospital blanket.
Evelyn Price faced all three women.
“Three hundred million dollars was not stolen,” she said.
“Then where is it?” Nora asked.
“In a protected compensation fund.”
“For whom?”
“The families of the illegal trial victims.”
Maya looked up.
“You knew about the trials?”
“Samuel told me one week before he died.”
“And you did nothing?” Celeste asked.
“I prepared lawsuits, evidence packages, and emergency trust amendments.”
“You could have gone to the police.”
“Samuel wanted proof that would survive the Cole family’s political influence.”
Nora’s voice sharpened.
“My father died while you waited for perfect proof.”
Evelyn accepted the accusation.
“Yes.”
The room fell silent.
Evelyn continued.
“After his death, I moved the money before Vivian could access it. I have spent four years locating victims.”
Nora looked at Maya.
“Was your brother one of them?”
“No,” Evelyn said. “He was a whistleblower. That may be why they kept him alive.”
A federal agent entered.
“We found Redwood House.”
Maya stood so quickly her chair fell.
“My brother?”
“There were nine patients inside. One matched his description.”
“Is he alive?”
“Yes.”
Maya covered her mouth.
The agent added, “He is sedated, but stable.”
Maya began crying quietly.
Nora reached for her hand.
They had known each other less than two hours.
They had also just learned they shared a father.
Nothing about the connection felt simple.
Evelyn placed another folder on the bed.
“This lists the victims and proposed compensation.”
Nora opened it.
Some families would receive millions.
Others would receive far less because Evelyn had calculated payments based on age, income, and degree of injury.
Nora frowned.
“You valued people differently.”
“It is how civil settlements work.”
“It is how companies think.”
“Nora, the fund is limited.”
“Then company executives can lose their bonuses.”
“Hale Meridian may not survive.”
“Maybe it shouldn’t survive in its current form.”
Evelyn studied her.
“Thousands of innocent employees depend on it.”
“And dozens of families buried people because of it.”
The first major decision of Nora’s leadership had arrived before she had even taken control.
Save the company.
Or expose everything and risk destroying it.
Celeste spoke softly.
“Julian will testify.”
Nora looked at her.
“You believe him?”
“No.”
Celeste held her wedding ring in her palm.
“But I believe he is afraid enough to tell the truth.”
Nora looked through the glass at Ethan.
He raised his eyes.
Their gazes met.
A nurse entered carrying a sealed envelope.
“This was delivered for Mrs. Nora Cole.”
There was no return address.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Ethan entering Redwood House three months earlier.
On the back, someone had written:
HE DID NOT DISCOVER THE TRUTH SIX WEEKS AGO. HE HAS KNOWN FOR MONTHS.
Nora looked through the glass again.
May you like
Ethan was no longer looking at her.
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