Chapter 5 - The Truth About My MotherFor a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
My mother had died when I was seventeen.
I remembered hospital rooms.
Chemotherapy.
The smell of disinfectant.
Her scarves.
Dad sitting beside her bed night after night.
I remembered doctors saying pancreatic cancer.
There had been scans.
Medications.
Pain.
A funeral.
“You're lying.”
Victor gave me a strangely gentle smile.
“I wish I were.”
“My mother had cancer.”
“Yes.”
I hesitated.
That wasn't the answer I expected.
“Then what are you talking about?”
“She was sick.”
He leaned back.
“But she wasn't supposed to die when she did.”
Cold spread through my body.
“What did you do?”
“Me?”
Victor looked offended.
“I loved Elizabeth.”
“Don't say her name.”
He sighed.
“She discovered financial records connected to the pension accounts.”
“The ones Dad recorded?”
“Yes.”
“She confronted you?”
“No. Richard.”
Nathan's father.
Victor continued.
“Your mother believed Richard Wexler was stealing money through companies tied to Dominic's old organization.”
“Was she right?”
“Yes.”
“Did Dominic know?”
“Not initially.”
Victor smiled.
“That was always Dominic's favorite defense. He never knew until after something terrible happened.”
I hated how effectively he planted doubt.
“What happened to Mom?”
“She met Richard privately.”
“Where?”
“At your family's house in Connecticut.”
I remembered that house.
We sold it after Mom died.
“What happened?”
“They argued.”
“And?”
Victor's eyes hardened.
“Richard convinced one of her nurses to alter her medication.”
My stomach turned.
“No.”
“She was already dying, Claire.”
“That doesn't make it murder less.”
Victor looked almost amused.
“No.”
“Did Dad know?”
“Not until years later.”
“Did you know?”
“Yes.”
The answer came too easily.
“You knew someone killed my mother and did nothing?”
“I did what powerful men always do.”
His smile disappeared.
“I survived.”
Something inside me finally understood.
Victor wasn't confessing because he felt guilty.
He was proud that he had outlived everyone else.
“You told Richard where she was meeting doctors, didn't you?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You are Charles's daughter.”
That was answer enough.
My hands curled into fists.
“Why?”
“Because Richard and I were partners.”
“And Dad?”
“Charles was useful.”
“You called him your best friend.”
“I loved him.”
I laughed in disbelief.
“You helped kill his wife.”
“People are complicated.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“Cowards are complicated. Monsters are simple.”
His face hardened.
Good.
“You have Dominic's confidence,” he said.
“I don't have anything of Dominic's.”
“Not yet.”
The words bothered me.
“What do you mean?”
Victor stood.
“You think he came to the gala because of your father?”
“He said he did.”
“He came because of you.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“You don't understand.”
He walked toward a cabinet and poured himself a drink.
“Dominic Bellardi has watched you from a distance for six years.”
My skin prickled.
“What?”
“He attended your father's funeral.”
I remembered.
A man beneath an umbrella at the edge of the cemetery.
I hadn't seen his face.
“He donated anonymously to your foundation.”
I stared.
“He blocked three hostile acquisition attempts against Blake Holdings without ever allowing you to know.”
I thought of inexplicable deals that had collapsed.
“He bought the building your first company rented office space in.”
“What?”
“And when Nathan Wexler entered your life, Dominic investigated him.”
“Then why didn't he warn me?”
Victor smiled.
“That is the interesting question.”
The door behind me opened.
Dominic entered.
Victor didn't seem surprised.
“I told her to come alone.”
Dominic closed the door.
“You've known me too long to expect obedience.”
Victor laughed softly.
“You're predictable in your old age.”
Dominic looked at me.
“You okay?”
I nodded.
It wasn't true.
But we didn't have time.
Victor lifted his glass.
“So.”
He looked between us.
“The old guardian finally meets the princess.”
“I am not a princess.”
Victor smiled.
“Definitely Charles's daughter.”
Dominic moved closer.
“What do you want?”
“Control.”
“Of Blake Holdings?”
“Of what belongs to me.”
“My father built that company.”
“With my money.”
“No.”
Victor's eyes sharpened.
“Charles built it using capital Richard and I gave him.”
Dominic shook his head.
“You stole that capital.”
“Money doesn't remember where it came from.”
“People do.”
Victor's smile vanished.
“That's why so many people died.”
My phone, hidden in my purse, was connected to Mercer outside.
Victor didn't know.
At least I hoped.
I needed him talking.
“Did you kill Dad?”
He looked at me.
“No.”
“Who did?”
“Richard.”
“But Nathan said someone inside Blake Holdings did it.”
Victor smiled again.
“Richard paid someone inside.”
“Who?”
Victor's gaze moved toward Dominic.
“He knows.”
I turned.
Dominic's face changed.
“Who?” I asked.
Dominic didn't answer.
Victor laughed.
“Tell her.”
“Dominic.”
He exhaled.
“Your father's driver.”
“Samuel?”
I remembered Samuel Harris.
He drove Dad everywhere.
After Dad died, Samuel vanished.
I assumed he had moved.
“What did he do?”
“Put something in your father's coffee.”
My knees weakened.
“Poison?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“I found Samuel four years ago.”
“What happened?”
“He confessed.”
My stomach twisted.
“And then?”
Dominic looked at me.
I knew before he said it.
“He died.”
“Did you kill him?”
“No.”
“Who did?”
“He killed himself before I could bring him to federal authorities.”
Victor clapped slowly.
“How noble.”
Dominic ignored him.
“Samuel left a recording.”
“Where?”
“In my safe.”
Victor's face changed.
For the first time, actual concern.
That told me everything.
“You didn't know,” Dominic said.
Victor remained silent.
“You thought I found Samuel but not the confession.”
Dominic smiled faintly.
“I've had it for four years.”
Victor set down his glass.
“Then why haven't you used it?”
“Because Samuel named Richard.”
“Richard is dead.”
“He also named you.”
Victor's expression froze.
Dominic continued.
“You arranged the payment.”
The room became silent.
Victor reached inside his jacket.
Dominic moved.
So did I.
Victor pulled a gun.
I grabbed the lamp beside me and threw it.
The lamp struck his arm.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Dominic slammed into him.
They crashed into the table.
Victor was almost seventy, but desperation made him fast.
He struck Dominic across the face.
Dominic caught his wrist.
The gun slid across the floor.
Toward me.
I reached it first.
“Stop!”
Both men froze.
I pointed the gun at Victor.
My hands shook violently.
Victor looked at me.
“You won't shoot.”
“Don't test me.”
“You're not like them.”
“No.”
My voice steadied.
“I'm like my father.”
Victor smiled.
“Charles couldn't pull the trigger either.”
“He didn't need to.”
Sirens became audible below.
Victor's face changed.
I lifted my purse.
“You've been speaking to a federal prosecutor for the last ten minutes.”
His confidence disappeared.
“You stupid girl.”
Dominic stepped between us.
Victor laughed.
“You still protect her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Dominic's answer came immediately.
“Because Charles asked me to.”
Victor looked at him.
“That's not the whole reason.”
Dominic said nothing.
I noticed.
Police pounded on the door.
Victor shook his head.
“You think this ends with me?”
“It ends with prison.”
“No.”
His eyes went toward me.
“Nathan has already moved the controlling shares.”
“What?”
I felt cold.
“He can't.”
“He can with Emily's authorization.”
“Emily didn't authorize anything.”
Victor smiled.
“She signed documents months ago.”
I remembered the shell corporation bearing her name.
“What happens now?”
“Tomorrow morning, the board votes.”
“On what?”
“To remove you.”
My stomach dropped.
“With you declared incapable and Emily's shares transferred, Nathan controls enough votes.”
“Why would Nathan help you after tonight?”
Victor laughed.
“Because Nathan doesn't have a choice.”
The front door burst open.
Mercer entered with agents.
Victor raised his hands.
As they cuffed him, he looked back at me.
“Ask Nathan what happens if he refuses.”
Then he was taken away.
I stood in silence.
Dominic touched blood at the corner of his mouth.
“You're bleeding.”
“I've had worse.”
“You always say things like that?”
“Mostly when I'm bleeding.”
Despite myself, I laughed.
The sound broke something open inside me.
Then I began crying.
Not elegant tears.
Not quiet tears.
Everything came out.
Dad.
Mom.
Nathan.
Emily.
Victor.
Dominic didn't touch me at first.
He waited.
Then I stepped toward him.
He put his arms around me.
For a moment, I allowed myself to lean against someone else.
“You should have told me,” I whispered.
“I know.”
“About Dad.”
“I know.”
“About Nathan.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
He was quiet.
“Because every time I thought about entering your life, I remembered your father's last request.”
“What request?”
“He wanted you free of this world.”
I looked up.
“And yet here we are.”
“Yes.”
His expression softened.
“I'm sorry.”
It was the first time I believed he truly was.
My phone rang.
Emily.
I answered.
“Claire.”
She sounded terrified.
“What happened?”
“Nathan came.”
“Where are you?”
“At the federal building.”
“How?”
“He surrendered himself.”
I looked at Mercer.
He frowned.
Emily continued.
“He says he wants to testify.”
“Against Victor?”
“Against everyone.”
“Why?”
“He says there's another account.”
“What account?”
“He won't tell me.”
“Then why did you call?”
Emily began crying.
“Because he asked for you.”
“No.”
“Claire, please.”
“I can't.”
“He says it's about tomorrow's board vote.”
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
“He says Victor lied.”
“About what?”
“He says the board vote isn't about taking Blake Holdings.”
“What is it about?”
Emily hesitated.
Then spoke.
“Selling it.”
“To whom?”
She whispered the name.
My blood ran cold.
“Bellardi Capital.”
I looked at Dominic.
He stared back.
I lowered the phone.
“Tell me she's wrong.”
He didn't.
I stepped away from him.
“You're buying my company?”
“Claire—”
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
The word shattered the fragile trust between us.
“When did you make the offer?”
“Three months ago.”
Before the gala.
Before he supposedly discovered Nathan moving money.
“You've been trying to acquire Blake Holdings?”
“To protect it.”
“From whom?”
“Victor.”
“You could have told me.”
“I couldn't prove—”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“Everyone keeps using that excuse.”
I backed toward the door.
“Dad lied to protect me. Emily lied because she was scared. Nathan lied because he wanted my shares. Victor lied because he wanted control.”
My voice broke.
“And you lied because you thought you knew what was best for me.”
Dominic didn't argue.
That hurt more.
“Claire.”
“Don't follow me.”
I left.
For the first time that night, Dominic Bellardi obeyed.
I went to the federal building.
Nathan sat behind reinforced glass.
He looked exhausted.
No tuxedo jacket.
No arrogance.
Just Nathan.
The man I once thought I knew.
I picked up the phone.
He did the same.
“You came.”
“Talk.”
He looked at me for several seconds.
“Dominic isn't your enemy.”
That surprised me.
“Then why did you tell me not to trust him?”
“Because I hated him.”
“For Michael.”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“Now I understand Michael deserved what happened.”
The words seemed difficult for him.
“But Bellardi is buying Blake Holdings.”
“He isn't buying it.”
“What?”
Nathan leaned closer to the glass.
“He's buying Victor's debt.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Victor leveraged his shares against private loans.”
“So?”
“So if Victor defaults, Bellardi controls those shares.”
“Why?”
“To stop a different buyer.”
“Who?”
Nathan's face tightened.
“A company called Meridian International.”
I knew the name.
Huge infrastructure conglomerate.
“What does Meridian want with Blake Holdings?”
“Your ports.”
“Our logistics division?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Nathan stared at me.
“Because the company using those ports isn't moving construction equipment.”
My stomach tightened.
“What are they moving?”
“People.”
I went cold.
Nathan continued.
“Victor's partners expanded far beyond financial crimes.”
I remembered Dominic's lines.
Children.
Drugs.
Human trafficking.
“What people?”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“Women. Migrants. Kids.”
I nearly dropped the phone.
“Dominic knows?”
“He suspected.”
“And you?”
“I found out six weeks ago.”
“Why didn't you call authorities?”
“Because Victor threatened Emily.”
My anger surged.
“You were already sleeping with her.”
“Yes.”
“But that's when you tried to get her away from him.”
Nathan nodded.
“Every horrible thing I did started before I knew.”
His eyes filled.
“But after I found out, I kept doing horrible things because I thought I could fix it alone.”
I understood that kind of arrogance now.
Everyone in my life had suffered from it.
“You can't.”
“I know.”
He leaned toward the glass.
“That is why I'm testifying.”
“What's happening tomorrow?”
“The board vote decides whether Meridian gets access to the ports.”
“And my shares?”
“You can stop it.”
“How?”
“Forty-one percent isn't enough.”
“No.”
“You need Emily.”
“Yes.”
“Together we have sixty-one.”
Nathan's face tightened.
“Not anymore.”
“What?”
“The documents she signed transferred voting rights.”
“To you?”
“Yes.”
“Then give them back.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor added a clause.”
My heart sank.
“What clause?”
“The transfer becomes permanent if Emily or I attempt to revoke it.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if Victor controls the trust administrator.”
“Who?”
Nathan looked at me.
“Someone you haven't mentioned once tonight.”
I waited.
“Your father's attorney.”
I froze.
“Leonard Shaw?”
Nathan nodded.
Leonard had handled every family legal matter since I was a child.
He had drafted my engagement agreement.
He had reviewed the foundation papers.
He had been invited to my wedding.
“Where is he?”
Nathan's expression darkened.
“No one knows.”
At that exact moment, every light in the visitation room flickered.
Nathan looked upward.
Then at me.
Fear entered his face.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“Get down.”
A window exploded behind him.
Nathan jerked violently.
Blood appeared across his white shirt.
I screamed.
He fell.
Guards rushed in.
Alarms sounded.
And as I stood frozen behind the glass, staring at the man I had once planned to marry bleeding onto the floor, my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
One message.
TOMORROW'S VOTE WILL HAPPEN.
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.
And underneath:
May you like
YOUR FATHER LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE HE TRUSTED THE WRONG MAN.
DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE.
