Chapter 10 - The Midpoint Lie
Jennifer confronted Robert that evening.
He did not deny it.
They met in Rachel’s office with attorneys present.
Robert looked exhausted.
“Twenty years ago, I made investments I should not have made.”
Jennifer’s eyes narrowed.
“What kind?”
“Unreported side agreements with suppliers.”
Marcus leaned forward.
“Kickbacks?”
Robert flinched.
“Nothing that simple.”
The money had been moved through entities Patricia controlled.
Years later, most of those entities closed.
Westbridge remained.
Robert claimed he believed the old accounts were dead.
“Daniel found the structure.”
Jennifer understood.
“And revived it.”
“Yes.”
“So when you acted shocked at the baptism, you were shocked because he stole from you.”
Robert looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“Not because hidden money existed.”
“No.”
Jennifer stood.
She felt betrayed again.
Different person.
Same family.
Robert spoke quickly.
“I never took money from you or Lily.”
“That isn’t the point.”
“I am helping you.”
“Now.”
Jennifer picked up her handbag.
“You’re helping now because Daniel took from you.”
Robert had no answer.
Outside, Rachel caught up with her.
“Don’t make decisions while you’re angry.”
Jennifer looked at her.
“I’m not angry.”
That surprised even her.
“I’m done trusting any of them.”
The case widened.
Forensic accountants were appointed.
Bank subpoenas spread across institutions.
Properties were traced.
Daniel’s lifestyle began collapsing.
His company access was suspended.
His father removed him from the board.
Several relatives demanded repayment.
Yet Daniel still behaved as if Jennifer would eventually surrender.
Then Chloe went into labor six weeks early.
She called Jennifer from the hospital.
Not Daniel.
Jennifer almost did not answer.
Then she heard Chloe crying.
“He’s here.”
“Who?”
“Daniel.”
Jennifer stood immediately.
“What is he doing?”
“He wants me to sign something before the baby is born.”
Jennifer called Rachel while grabbing her keys.
Rachel told her not to go alone.
Marcus met her at the hospital.
They found Chloe in a private room with a nurse beside her.
Daniel was gone.
On the bedside table sat unsigned papers.
A voluntary acknowledgment regarding financial support.
Buried in the language was a release.
If Chloe signed, she would waive claims involving Westbridge and confirm that all money received from Daniel had been personal gifts unrelated to any business activity.
Marcus stared at the document.
“He’s trying to sanitize the transfers.”
Chloe wiped tears from her face.
“He said if I didn’t sign, he would disappear.”
Jennifer looked at her.
“And?”
“I told him to go.”
Hours later, Chloe gave birth to a boy.
Evan.
Daniel did not return.
Two days later, DNA testing confirmed what Chloe and Jennifer already knew.
Daniel was Evan’s biological father.
But the DNA report created another problem.
Because when Rachel compared the dates against Daniel’s financial timeline, she found a transfer made months before Chloe claimed their affair had restarted.
A payment labeled CHLOE M.
Jennifer turned toward Chloe.
“You told me this began after your divorce.”
May you like
Chloe went pale.
And Jennifer realized Chloe had still been lying.
