Chapter 15 - Lauren Breaks
Lauren asked to meet me alone.
I refused.
She agreed to come to Maya’s office.
She arrived wearing sunglasses despite the cloudy weather.
Her hands shook as she removed them.
“I need immunity.”
Maya studied her.
“From what?”
“I do not know yet.”
“Then you need your own attorney.”
“I cannot afford one.”
“Your father can.”
Lauren laughed bitterly.
“My father canceled my cards yesterday.”
She looked at me.
“He thinks I told you about the deed.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“But I knew.”
The room became silent.
Lauren began talking before fear could stop her.
Richard had controlled the Bennett family for decades.
He paid Lauren’s mortgage.
He funded Daniel’s medical education.
He handled every trust, investment, and major purchase.
In return, he expected obedience.
“When Daniel started seeing Vanessa, Dad was furious at first.”
“Not because of you.”
“Because Vanessa did not come from the right family.”
“Then he realized she could help with hospital donors.”
“He decided the relationship could be useful.”
“Useful for what?”
“Moving money.”
Lauren described a network of consulting payments and charitable reimbursements.
Hospital foundation funds were routed through vendors connected to Richard.
North Meridian purchased property and paid personal expenses.
Daniel signed medical consulting agreements for work he never performed.
Vanessa approved travel charges.
Lauren handled event invoices.
“How involved were you?”
“I created false vendor descriptions.”
“Did you know money was being stolen?”
“Dad said it was tax planning.”
“When did you realize?”
“Years ago.”
“Before Paris?”
“Before Daniel met you.”
The admission landed heavily.
“What happened with Emily?”
Lauren looked toward the door.
Maya spoke quietly.
“This room is secure.”
Lauren began crying.
“Emily found the accounts.”
“She threatened to report Dad.”
“Daniel begged her to stay quiet.”
“She filed for divorce anyway.”
“What happened the night she died?”
“I do not know everything.”
“Tell us what you know.”
“Dad called me around eleven.”
“He said Emily had taken documents.”
“He told me Daniel was following her.”
“Following her where?”
“To the lake house.”
“Why was she going there?”
“Dad kept records in a safe.”
“She thought the originals were inside.”
“Was Daniel at the lake house?”
Lauren nodded.
“Dad was too.”
I felt the room tilt.
“Were you there?”
“No.”
“I stayed with Owen and Sophie.”
“What happened when Daniel returned?”
“He was soaked.”
“There was mud on his shoes.”
“He told me Emily had driven away before they could stop her.”
“Then why was he near the accident scene?”
“I asked him that.”
“What did he say?”
Lauren’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“He said she should have listened.”
Maya stopped writing.
“Did Richard ever discuss the brakes?”
Lauren covered her face.
“Two days later, I heard him talking to the mechanic.”
“What did he say?”
“He said the inspection report needed to disappear.”
I could hear my own heartbeat.
“Did Daniel hear that conversation?”
“Yes.”
“Did he object?”
“No.”
Lauren looked at me through tears.
“I do not know whether they caused the crash.”
“But I know they covered up whatever happened before it.”
“Why are you telling us now?”
“Because Dad wants me to take responsibility for the hospital invoices.”
“He said Daniel has more to lose.”
“He said I am replaceable.”
That was Richard’s mistake.
May you like
He had built a family based on fear.
Now fear was turning every person he controlled into a witness.
