Chapter 14 - THE CONFESSION
The boardroom erupted.
Sebastian grabbed the document.
“You can’t transfer my hotel.”
“I already did.”
Margaret’s confidence returned.
“The emergency authority agreement allows me to restructure company assets.”
“That agreement is forged.”
“Then prove it in court.”
She smiled.
“That could take months.”
Charlotte watched her.
Too confident.
Too ready.
Margaret had prepared every move.
Except one.
Charlotte looked at Daniel.
“Who owns the land?”
Margaret frowned.
“What?”
Charlotte repeated it.
“The building was transferred. Who owns the land underneath it?”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
Sebastian looked at him.
“My wife’s trust.”
Margaret’s smile froze.
Sebastian slowly stood straighter.
“The Valle Grand structure belongs to the company.”
He looked at Charlotte.
“But the land belongs to the Eleanor Valle Family Trust.”
Daniel finished the thought.
“And the trust prohibits transfer without unanimous approval of Sebastian’s direct descendants.”
Every head turned toward Charlotte.
Margaret stared at her.
“No.”
Charlotte smiled.
“Looks like you needed my signature.”
Margaret slammed her hand on the table.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing!”
“Then explain it.”
“I saved this company!”
“By stealing from sick kids?”
“The foundation was wasting money!”
“By forging documents?”
“You have no idea how business works!”
Charlotte took another step.
“By threatening my mother?”
Margaret’s face twisted.
“Your mother was reckless.”
Charlotte’s voice sharpened.
“And you hated her.”
“She was going to destroy everything!”
Phones around the table were recording now.
Margaret didn’t notice.
Or didn’t care.
Charlotte pushed.
“So you forced her out.”
“I protected Sebastian!”
“You intercepted his letters.”
Margaret’s eyes flashed.
“He would’ve brought her back!”
The room fell silent.
Charlotte barely breathed.
There it was.
Margaret realized what she had said.
Too late.
Charlotte continued softly.
“You blocked his letters.”
Margaret looked around.
Nobody moved.
Charlotte stepped closer.
“You kept a father from his daughter.”
Margaret’s breathing became uneven.
“Olivia would have taken control.”
“So you stole twenty-five years from them.”
“She left!”
“After you threatened her.”
Margaret shouted.
“I didn’t kill her!”
Silence.
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed.
“I never said you did.”
Margaret froze.
Detective Ruiz slowly stood.
“What happened to Olivia?”
Margaret backed away.
“Nothing.”
“What happened?”
“She had an accident.”
Charlotte felt ice move through her blood.
“My mother died of cancer.”
Margaret’s face changed.
She had walked straight into the trap.
Charlotte whispered.
“What accident?”
Margaret turned toward the door.
Lewis Grant stood there in handcuffs between two officers.
His face was pale.
He looked at Margaret.
“You told me she died in the crash.”
Charlotte stared.
“What crash?”
Lewis swallowed.
“Twenty-five years ago. I was paid to scare Olivia. We cut a brake line on her car.”
Sebastian staggered.
Daniel caught him.
Charlotte couldn’t breathe.
“My mother never told me.”
Lewis shook his head.
“She didn’t crash. She discovered the problem before driving.”
Charlotte looked at Margaret.
Margaret’s face had become gray.
“You tried to kill her.”
“No.”
“Lewis just said—”
“I told him to scare her!”
Margaret screamed now.
“I never told him to kill her!”
Ruiz moved forward.
Margaret suddenly grabbed the glass water pitcher from the table.
She swung it.
Charlotte ducked.
The pitcher shattered against the wall.
Margaret ran.
She shoved through the doors.
Across the lobby.
Guests screamed.
Security chased her.
Charlotte followed.
“Margaret!”
Margaret reached the private elevator.
The doors opened.
She stepped inside.
Charlotte grabbed her arm.
Margaret spun.
Her hand flew toward Charlotte’s face.
The same hand.
The same motion.
Charlotte caught her wrist.
Again.
Only this time, Charlotte didn’t say it quietly.
“Never. Hit. Me. Again.”
Ruiz reached them.
Handcuffs clicked around Margaret’s wrists.
Margaret stared at Charlotte.
“You think you won?”
Charlotte released her hand.
“No.”
May you like
She looked at Sebastian.
“I think my mother finally did.”
