Chapter 9: The Truth Lauren Was Hiding

I met Lauren the next morning.

Not because I trusted her.

Because I needed answers.

She chose the location.

A small café far from Daniel’s office.

When she arrived, she looked nothing like the woman who stood beside him in my hospital room.

No expensive suit.

No confident smile.

No diamond ring.

She looked exhausted.

“You came,” she said.

I sat across from her.

“You asked.””

Lauren looked around nervously.

“Daniel doesn’t know I’m here.””

“Why?””

She laughed bitterly.

“Because if he knew, he would destroy me.””

I watched her carefully.

“You helped him.””

Her eyes dropped.

“Yes.””

The honesty surprised me.

“Why?””

“Because I thought I was getting something.””

“What?””

“Power.””

She looked at her hands.

“Daniel promised me the company. He promised me a future.””

I almost laughed.

“You believed him?””

“I believed what he showed me.””

I stayed silent.

Lauren looked at me.

“I was wrong.””

“That doesn’t erase what happened.””

“I know.””

For the first time, she sounded sincere.

“I know what I did.””

I leaned forward.

“Then tell me the truth.””

Lauren took a deep breath.

“Daniel was never planning to leave with me.””

My eyebrows lifted.

“What?””

“He needed me because I had access to financial systems. He needed someone inside the company.””

The room became quiet.

“So you were just a tool.””

She nodded.

“Yes.””

I looked away.

A strange feeling passed through me.

Not sympathy.

Not forgiveness.

Just understanding.

Daniel used everyone.

Lauren continued.

“There is one more thing.””

“What?””

She reached into her bag.

And placed a small envelope on the table.

“Daniel has another account.””

Michael’s investigation had found several.

But Lauren shook her head.

“Not a business account.””

I opened the envelope.

Inside was a bank statement.

The name on it made my heart stop.

Because the account holder wasn’t Daniel.

It was Clara.

My daughter.

I looked at Lauren.

“What is this?””

Her face turned pale.

“I found it two weeks ago.””

“Why would Daniel create an account under my daughter’s name?””

Lauren whispered:

“Because he planned to use her inheritance as leverage.””

I stared at the document.

The room seemed to spin.

“He knew?””

Lauren nodded.

“He found out your grandmother left something behind before you did.””

My blood went cold.

“How?””

She looked at me.

“Because someone told him.””

“Who?””

Lauren hesitated.

Then said:

“The person who helped him hide everything.””

I leaned closer.

“Who?””

Lauren looked toward the café window.

Then back at me.

“Your grandmother’s attorney.””

I froze.

“That’s impossible.””

Lauren shook her head.

“I thought so too.””

My phone suddenly rang.

It was Michael.

I answered immediately.

“Rebecca, where are you?””

“Why?””

His voice was urgent.

“Because I just discovered something about Evelyn Hart’s original trust.””

I stood.

“What?””

A pause.

Then Michael said:

“Your grandmother didn’t only leave you twenty million dollars.””

I held my breath.

“What else?””

His voice dropped.

“She left you control of the company Daniel has been trying to steal.””

I looked at Lauren.

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