Chapter 16 - The Forty-Eight Hours He Lost
My father sat down.
I had never seen him look weak.
Not until that moment.
“What does he mean?”
Charles rubbed both hands over his face.
“After Leah died, I didn’t sleep.”
“That doesn’t explain your signature.”
“I was taking medication.”
“What medication?”
“Sedatives.”
My anger returned instantly.
“You signed a three-million-dollar payment while drugged?”
“No.”
He looked at Owen.
“At least I don’t think I did.”
Owen smiled.
Rachel ordered him to explain.
He finally did.
After Leah’s death, Conrad had convinced my father that I was in immediate danger.
Owen controlled the estate security.
He also controlled what information reached Charles.
Threatening photographs.
Anonymous calls.
Fake surveillance reports.
They kept my father frightened, exhausted, and isolated.
Then Owen brought documents for him to sign.
Dozens of them.
Security expenses.
Emergency retainers.
Private investigators.
Buried among them was the payment.
My father looked sick.
“I trusted you.”
Owen’s expression barely changed.
“That was always your weakness.”
“No.”
I looked at my father.
“His weakness was fear.”
Charles turned toward me.
I continued.
“He was so afraid of losing me that he let everyone else decide what was true.”
My father lowered his eyes.
He knew I was right.
That didn’t make it easier.
Nathan examined the document.
“This may reduce criminal intent, but it doesn’t erase responsibility.”
“I know,” my father said.
I stared at him.
He didn’t ask for protection.
Didn’t call his attorneys.
Didn’t threaten anyone.
He simply held out his hands.
“If you need my phone, records, accounts, all of it is yours.”
Nathan nodded.
“We will.”
My father turned toward me.
“I should have gone to the police seven years ago.”
“Yes.”
“I should have protected Leah.”
“Yes.”
“I should have trusted your mother.”
“Yes.”
His eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
I wanted to say I forgave him.
I couldn’t.
Not yet.
So I said the only honest thing.
“I know.”
Across the ballroom, Adrian suddenly began shouting.
“I want a lawyer.”
Rachel looked at him.
“You’ve asked for one three times.”
“No.”
He stared at me.
“I want to make a statement.”
Conrad snapped.
“Adrian, shut your mouth.”
Adrian looked at his father.
“You were going to bury me.”
Conrad’s face remained cold.
Adrian laughed once.
Then turned toward Nathan.
“I know where the original footage is.”
My pulse jumped.
“The forty-seven seconds?”
“Yes.”
Owen stopped smiling.
Adrian noticed.
“So you didn’t destroy everything after all.”
Owen glared at him.
Adrian looked at me.
“Your pendant recorded the entire attack.”
“I know.”
“Owen took it.”
“I know that too.”
“He copied it before deleting it.”
“Why?”
Adrian smiled bitterly.
“Because I said something during those forty-seven seconds.”
“What?”
He looked directly at Conrad.
“I told Elena my father ordered Leah’s crash.”
The ballroom erupted.
Conrad shouted.
“He’s lying!”
Adrian shook his head.
“No, Dad.”
May you like
He looked almost relieved.
“For once, I’m going to tell the truth.”
