Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
The accusation hit Brooke like a physical blow.
“What?””
Marcus didn’t respond immediately.
He pulled out his phone and showed us the report.
“The signature was copied from Isabella’s old employment records.””
Brooke looked confused.
“Why would anyone do that?””
Richard answered quietly.
“To frame her.””
Everyone turned.
He looked at Isabella.
“Someone knew you were investigating.””
Isabella nodded.
“That’s why I stayed close to Ethan.””
I looked at her.
“To protect me?””
She looked away.
“To find the person who was trying to destroy your family.””
I wanted to believe her.
But trust was not something I could hand out anymore.
Not after everything.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes met mine.
“Would you have believed me?””
I didn’t answer.
Because the truth was no.
Six months ago, maybe.
Tonight?
After Brooke and Chad?
I wasn’t sure.
Isabella nodded sadly.
“That’s what I thought.””
Brooke stepped forward.
“I need to ask something.””
Isabella looked at her.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were my cousin?””
A painful silence followed.
“Because I didn’t know if you were involved.””
Brooke looked hurt.
“You thought I was?””
“I thought everyone was.””
The honesty was brutal.
And understandable.
Richard walked toward the table.
“We need to focus.””
He pointed at the contract.
“The person behind this knew Ethan’s signature. They knew company procedures. They knew family history.””
Marcus nodded.
“And they had access.””
I looked around.
Someone inside.
Someone close.
Again.
My phone suddenly vibrated.
Unknown number.
Everyone looked at it.
I answered.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then a voice spoke.
“You’re looking in the wrong direction.””
My body went still.
The voice was distorted.
“Who is this?””
A quiet laugh.
“Someone who knows what your uncle did.””
Richard stepped closer.
“Put it on speaker.””
I did.
The voice continued.
“Richard, you always thought hiding the truth would protect everyone.””
Richard’s face changed.
“Who are you?””
“You know.””
“No.””
“Yes, you do.””
The caller paused.
Then said:
“You just never wanted to admit it.””
The line disconnected.
Nobody moved.
Marcus immediately tried tracing the number.
“It’s blocked.””
Richard looked shaken.
“What did they mean?””
I stared at him.
“What did you do?””
His eyes moved away.
That was the second time I saw guilt on his face.
“Richard.””
He sat down slowly.
“There was someone else involved twenty years ago.””
“Who?””
He didn’t answer.
Brooke stepped closer.
“Tell him.””
Richard looked at her.
“You know?””
She shook her head.
“Not everything.””
I felt anger rising.
“Everyone knows pieces of my life except me.””
Richard looked at me.
“You deserve the truth.””
“Then give it.””
He took a deep breath.
“Twenty years ago, your father discovered the missing foundation money.””
My expression changed.
“My father?””
I had never heard this story.
Richard nodded.
“He was the first person to investigate.””
I felt my heartbeat increase.
“My father died when I was young.””
“I know.””
“Was that an accident too?””
Nobody answered.
And that silence was terrifying.
Richard looked at the floor.
“I don’t know.””
The words felt impossible.
My entire life was built on things I thought were certain.
My family.
My company.
My relationships.
Now everything had cracks.
Then Marcus’s phone made a sound.
A message.
He read it.
And his face changed.
“What?””
He handed the phone to me.
It was a security image.
A person entering the Vance headquarters earlier that night.
Carrying a folder.
Wearing a dark coat.
The image was blurry.
But the face was clear enough.
I knew that person.
Everyone in the room knew that person.
Because the person walking into my company was someone who had supposedly been on my side.
Someone who had cried beside my hospital bed.
Someone who had promised she would never leave me.
May you like
Brooke whispered the name.
“Victoria.””
