Chapter 18 - THE FALSE VICTORY
Helena’s voice filled the room.
“Claire cannot deliver that child while the trust remains intact.”
Margaret’s recorded voice trembled.
“What do you want me to do.”
“Create an accident.”
“I don’t want anyone killed.”
“Then make sure she lands carefully.”
Claire felt sick.
Helena had discussed the loss of her baby as though adjusting a business transaction.
Lucas could barely look at his mother.
“You ordered someone to make my pregnant wife fall.”
Helena remained eerily calm.
“I was protecting everything your father built.”
“You nearly destroyed everything he loved.”
Mason arrested her.
Margaret was taken into custody as well.
For several minutes, it seemed finished.
The evidence existed.
The original trust existed.
The fake DNA challenge collapsed within hours.
The securities investigators suspended their case against Claire after the forged digital signatures were traced to Nathan’s old administrative access.
Evelyn agreed to cooperate with prosecutors regarding the missing sixteen million.
Lucas held Claire in the library.
“It’s over.”
Claire wanted to believe him.
She rested her forehead against his chest.
Then Mason entered.
His face destroyed the moment.
“No.”
Claire pulled away.
“What.”
“It isn’t over.”
Nathan had finally contacted police.
He offered to surrender.
But only if Claire came personally.
Lucas refused immediately.
“Absolutely not.”
Mason agreed.
“Normally, neither would I.”
Claire studied him.
“But.”
“Nathan says Rebecca has Henry’s final recording.”
“The missing twenty seconds.”
Claire remembered the corrupted video from the cemetery.
“What’s in it.”
“He won’t say over the phone.”
Lucas shook his head.
“It could be a trap.”
“It probably is.”
Claire looked at Mason.
“Where.”
“An abandoned Sterling shipping terminal near the harbor.”
Lucas laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
Claire considered everything.
Rebecca had helped create the chaos.
Nathan had forged records against her.
They were not innocent.
But neither had ordered the fall.
And Henry’s final message had anticipated all of this.
“I’m going.”
Lucas stared at her.
“No.”
“You don’t get to decide.”
“You’re pregnant.”
“I noticed.”
“This is insane.”
“Then come with me.”
Two hours later, police surrounded the harbor terminal.
Claire entered with Lucas and Mason.
Nathan stood beneath a hanging industrial light.
Beside him was Rebecca.
For the first time, Claire saw her clearly.
She looked almost exactly like Evelyn twenty years older.
Rebecca held a flash drive.
“Your father-in-law wanted you to see this.”
Claire extended her hand.
Rebecca did not move.
“First.”
“You need to understand something.”
“Helena ordered the staircase.”
“Yes.”
“But Helena did not create the maternal termination document.”
Claire’s stomach tightened.
“Who did.”
May you like
Rebecca looked directly at Lucas.
“Your husband.”
