Chapter 11 - Uncle Richard
Richard called me the next morning.
I answered as if I knew nothing.
“Evelyn.”
“Richard.”
“Been a long time.”
“Not long enough.”
He chuckled.
“I heard Julian’s getting married.”
“So I hear.”
“To a remarkable woman.”
That confirmed everything.
“You know Chloe?”
Silence.
Then he said, “Everyone knows everyone eventually.”
I almost smiled.
Richard had always believed himself smarter than everyone in the room.
His arrogance had ruined him before.
Maybe it would again.
“What do you want?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why call?”
“I thought you might need family.”
“You haven’t acted like family since your brother’s funeral.”
His voice hardened.
“You stole my brother’s company.”
“There it is.”
“He promised me control.”
“He left control to Julian.”
“Because you manipulated him.”
“No, Richard.”
“Because he didn’t trust you.”
The silence became dangerous.
Then he whispered, “Be careful, Evelyn.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s advice.”
He hung up.
That evening, Julian invited Chloe to dinner.
I watched through the security feed.
He looked loving.
Relaxed.
Almost exactly like the man he had been before learning the truth.
Chloe touched his hand.
“I knew you would come back to me.”
Julian smiled.
“My mother pushed too hard.”
“She always does.”
My chest tightened.
Even knowing it was an act, hearing him say it hurt.
Chloe leaned closer.
“After the wedding, things can be different.”
“How?”
“You won’t need her approval anymore.”
Julian poured wine.
“And the company?”
She smiled.
“We’ll build our own future.”
“Using my family shares?”
Her smile vanished for half a second.
Then returned.
“Using what belongs to you.”
She slid a folder across the table.
“The lawyer made one final revision.”
There it was.
The amendment.
Julian opened it.
“What does this do?”
“Protects me.”
“From what?”
“Your mother.”
He took out a pen.
Chloe watched him.
So did I.
His hand moved toward the signature line.
Then the camera feed went black.
Every screen in the security room died at once.
Daniel swore.
“What happened?”
Someone had cut power to the recording system.
May you like
And Julian was alone downstairs with Chloe.
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