Chapter 9: The Price of Betrayal## Chapter 9: The Price of Betrayal
Derek didn't answer.
He stood in the doorway
Derek didn't answer.
He stood in the doorway, looking at me as though he were trying to decide which version of himself might, looking at me as though he were trying to decide which version of himself might still convince me.
The loving husband.
The exhausted businessman.
The misunderstood son.
Or the man who had planned to still convince me.
The loving husband.
The exhausted businessman.
The misunderstood son.
Or the man who had planned to use his wife's inheritance while she was recovering from childbirth.
“Derek,” I said quietly.
“Look at me.””
He did.
“Did you plan to take my mother's inheritance?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“It wasn't like that.””
I use his wife's inheritance while she was recovering from childbirth.
“Derek,” I said quietly.
“Look at me.””
He did.
“Did you plan to take my mother's inheritance?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“It wasn't like that.””
I nodded.
“Then explain it.””
He glanced at Carter.
“This is a private family matter.””
Carter stepped between us.
“Mr. Halston, you nodded.
“Then explain it.””
He glanced at Carter.
“This is a private family matter.””
Carter stepped between us.
“Mr. Halston, you are in a legal conference room. If you wish to make a statement, you may are in a legal conference room. If you wish to make a statement, you may do so through your attorney.””
Derek ignored him.
“Audrey, your father has been controlling our lives since the day we got married. You know that.””
I stared at him.
“My father wasn't in our bedroom with Vanessa.””
His face tightened.
“That's not what I'm talking about.””
“You weren't at the hospital when do so through your attorney.””
Derek ignored him.
“Audrey, your father has been controlling our lives since the day we got married. You know that.””
I stared at him.
“My father wasn't in our bedroom with Vanessa.””
His face tightened.
“That's not what I'm talking about.””
“You weren't at the hospital when Maisie was born.””
“I've already apologized for that.””
“You didn't come home with us.””
“I was dealing with things.””
“You were planning to take my inheritance.””
He finally Maisie was born.””
“I've already apologized for that.””
“You didn't come home with us.””
“I was dealing with things.””
“You were planning to take my inheritance.””
He finally raised his voice.
“I WAS TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING FOR OUR FAMILY!””
My father stood.
“By forging documents?””
Derek turned toward him.
“You don't understand the raised his voice.
“I WAS TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING FOR OUR FAMILY!””
My father stood.
“By forging documents?””
Derek turned toward him.
“You don't understand the pressure I was under.””
“Then explain the $85,000.””
Derek went silent.
My father continued.
“Explain the false property declaration. Explain the bank account. Explain why my former financial controller was paid to pressure I was under.””
“Then explain the $85,000.””
Derek went silent.
My father continued.
“Explain the false property declaration. Explain the bank account. Explain why my former financial controller was paid to access records he had no authority to share.””
Derek looked at Carter.
“I want my lawyer.””
“Then contact him,” Carter replied.
Derek turned toward me again.
“A access records he had no authority to share.””
Derek looked at Carter.
“I want my lawyer.””
“Then contact him,” Carter replied.
Derek turned toward me again.
“Audrey, please. We can still fix this.””
I looked at him.
“Fix what?””
“The marriage.””
I almost laughed.
“You broughtudrey, please. We can still fix this.””
I looked at him.
“Fix what?””
“The marriage.””
I almost laughed.
“You brought another woman into our bedroom.””
“That was a mistake.””
“You ignored seventeen calls while I was giving birth.””
“I told you I was busy.””
“You planned to take my mother's inheritance.””
He stepped closer.
“Audrey, I another woman into our bedroom.””
“That was a mistake.””
“You ignored seventeen calls while I was giving birth.””
“I told you I was busy.””
“You planned to take my mother's inheritance.””
He stepped closer.
“Audrey, I love you.””
I looked at his wedding ring.
He was still wearing it.
For some reason, that love you.””
I looked at his wedding ring.
He was still wearing it.
For some reason, that detail hurt more than anything else.
I remembered how carefully I had chosen that ring.
How he had cried during our wedding vows.
How he had promised to protect me.
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then detail hurt more than anything else.
I remembered how carefully I had chosen that ring.
How he had cried during our wedding vows.
How he had promised to protect me.
I looked at him for a long moment.
Then I said:
“You don't love me, Derek. You love what you thought you could get from marrying me.””
His face went pale.
He turned toward the door.
But before leaving, he said something that made my father immediately stand I said:
“You don't love me, Derek. You love what you thought you could get from marrying me.””
His face went pale.
He turned toward the door.
But before leaving, he said something that made my father immediately stand.
“You should ask your father what happened to the money your mother left you.””
I froze.
“What?””
Derek gave a small, bitter smile.
“Ask him.””
My father stepped forward.
“Derek, don't.””
But.
“You should ask your father what happened to the money your mother left you.””
I froze.
“What?””
Derek gave a small, bitter smile.
“Ask him.””
My father stepped forward.
“Derek, don't.””
But Derek was already walking away.
Carter immediately called his office assistant and asked that the bank records be reviewed again.
I turned toward my father.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“Sweetheart, I don't know what he's Derek was already walking away.
Carter immediately called his office assistant and asked that the bank records be reviewed again.
I turned toward my father.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“Sweetheart, I don't know what he's talking about.””
“Then why did he say it?””
My father shook his head.
“I will find out.””
I sat down.
My hands were trembling.
For six years, I had believed my mother's inheritance was untouched.
I had never talking about.””
“Then why did he say it?””
My father shook his head.
“I will find out.””
I sat down.
My hands were trembling.
For six years, I had believed my mother's inheritance was untouched.
I had never needed to withdraw from it.
I had never asked anyone to manage it.
My father had always told me it was safe.
And now Derek had suggested otherwise.
That evening, my father went through the old estate records needed to withdraw from it.
I had never asked anyone to manage it.
My father had always told me it was safe.
And now Derek had suggested otherwise.
That evening, my father went through the old estate records.
I sat beside him in the guesthouse office while Maisie slept upstairs.
The room smelled of old paper and coffee.
Dad opened a cabinet containing the documents from my mother's estate.
“Your.
I sat beside him in the guesthouse office while Maisie slept upstairs.
The room smelled of old paper and coffee.
Dad opened a cabinet containing the documents from my mother's estate.
“Your mother left you two things,” he said.
“A small investment portfolio and the proceeds from the mother left you two things,” he said.
“A small investment portfolio and the proceeds from the sale of her apartment.””
I nodded.
“I remember.””
“The portfolio was transferred into an account under your name. I managed the investments temporarily until you were ready to take responsibility.””
“Right.””
He opened a folder.
“The sale of her apartment.””
I nodded.
“I remember.””
“The portfolio was transferred into an account under your name. I managed the investments temporarily until you were ready to take responsibility.””
“Right.””
He opened a folder.
“The apartment proceeds were placed in a separate trust account.””
I looked at him.
“Was that the money Derek was talking about?””
“Possibly.””
He checked the statements.
Then he stopped.
I watched his expression apartment proceeds were placed in a separate trust account.””
I looked at him.
“Was that the money Derek was talking about?””
“Possibly.””
He checked the statements.
Then he stopped.
I watched his expression.
“What?””
He turned the page.
“There was a withdrawal.””
My stomach dropped.
“How much?””
“Sixty thousand dollars.””
“When?””
He checked the date.
“Four months ago.””
I felt cold.
“Dad, I didn't withdraw sixty.
“What?””
He turned the page.
“There was a withdrawal.””
My stomach dropped.
“How much?””
“Sixty thousand dollars.””
“When?””
He checked the date.
“Four months ago.””
I felt cold.
“Dad, I didn't withdraw sixty thousand dollars.””
“I know.””
“Who did?””
He looked at the authorization record.
The transaction had been approved using an electronic access credential associated with my old estate administrator.
But the authorization had been submitted from an thousand dollars.””
“I know.””
“Who did?””
He looked at the authorization record.
The transaction had been approved using an electronic access credential associated with my old estate administrator.
But the authorization had been submitted from an unfamiliar device.
Dad called the bank immediately.
After several minutes, he ended the call.
“They've placed a temporary restriction on the remaining account while they investigate.””
“Can they recover unfamiliar device.
Dad called the bank immediately.
After several minutes, he ended the call.
“They've placed a temporary restriction on the remaining account while they investigate.””
“Can they recover the money?””
“Possibly. We need the transaction records.””
I stared at the page.
“Was Derek involved?””
My father didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
the money?””
“Possibly. We need the transaction records.””
I stared at the page.
“Was Derek involved?””
My father didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
At 9:40 p.m., Carter called.
He had received the preliminary bank records.
The $60,000 had been transferred into an account belonging to a consulting company connected to Ethan Cole.
The same company that had received money from Derek's development business.
But there was***
At 9:40 p.m., Carter called.
He had received the preliminary bank records.
The $60,000 had been transferred into an account belonging to a consulting company connected to Ethan Cole.
The same company that had received money from Derek's development business.
But there was something else.
The transfer authorization included a scanned copy of my signature.
I closed my eyes.
Another forged document.
Another something else.
The transfer authorization included a scanned copy of my signature.
I closed my eyes.
Another forged document.
Another piece of my life Derek had tried to use without my permission.
Carter's voice was steady.
“We're preserving the records and notifying the appropriate institutions. I want you to understand that the investigation is still ongoing piece of my life Derek had tried to use without my permission.
Carter's voice was steady.
“We're preserving the records and notifying the appropriate institutions. I want you to understand that the investigation is still ongoing. We won't assume who initiated the transfer until the evidence establishes it.””
“I understand.””
“There's one more thing.””
“What?””
“The bank has identified an attempted second transfer.””
. We won't assume who initiated the transfer until the evidence establishes it.””
“I understand.””
“There's one more thing.””
“What?””
“The bank has identified an attempted second transfer.””
“How much?””
“One hundred and forty thousand dollars.””
I gripped the edge of the desk.
“Was it completed?””
“No. The bank's security team flagged it.””
“How much?””
“One hundred and forty thousand dollars.””
I gripped the edge of the desk.
“Was it completed?””
“No. The bank's security team flagged it.””
I exhaled.
At least that money was still there.
“Carter, I want everything investigated.””
“We'll pursueI exhaled.
At least that money was still there.
“Carter, I want everything investigated.””
“We'll pursue the appropriate steps.””
“And Derek?””
“His attorney has been informed that any further communication about your assets must go through our office.””
the appropriate steps.””
“And Derek?””
“His attorney has been informed that any further communication about your assets must go through our office.””
I nodded.
After the call ended, my father came into the room.
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I promise you, sweetheart. We'll get to the bottom of this.””
I leaned against him.
“I don't wantI nodded.
After the call ended, my father came into the room.
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I promise you, sweetheart. We'll get to the bottom of this.””
I leaned against him.
“I don't want Maisie growing up around people who think this is normal.””
“She won't.””
I Maisie growing up around people who think this is normal.””
“She won't.””
I looked toward the stairs.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
Audrey, you need to know what happened to the money. Derek wasn't the only person involved.
I stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
Your mother left a letter with specific instructions about your inheritance. Someone removed it from the estate file.
My heart began pounding.
I typed:
Who is this?
The response came immediately.
*It's Helen looked toward the stairs.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
Audrey, you need to know what happened to the money. Derek wasn't the only person involved.
I stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
Your mother left a letter with specific instructions about your inheritance. Someone removed it from the estate file.
My heart began pounding.
I typed:
Who is this?
The response came immediately.
It's Helen Foster. I found something in the old records this afternoon.
I called her.
She answered on the first ring.
Foster. I found something in the old records this afternoon.*
I called her.
She answered on the first ring.
“Audrey?””
“What letter?””
Helen took a breath.
“I found a sealed envelope in the old estate archive. It was addressed to you.””
“What did it say?””
“I haven't opened it. But I recognized your mother's handwriting.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where is it?””
“Safe“Audrey?””
“What letter?””
Helen took a breath.
“I found a sealed envelope in the old estate archive. It was addressed to you.””
“What did it say?””
“I haven't opened it. But I recognized your mother's handwriting.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where is it?””
“Safe. I gave it to Carter's office.””
I looked at my father.
He had gone completely still.
Helen continued.
“There's something else, Audrey.””
“What?””
“Your mother wrote a second name. I gave it to Carter's office.””
I looked at my father.
He had gone completely still.
Helen continued.
“There's something else, Audrey.””
“What?””
“Your mother wrote a second name on the envelope.””
“Whose?””
Helen hesitated.
Then she said:
“Margaret Halston.””
I couldn't speak.
My father slowly sat down.
Because my mother had died years before I married Derek.
Years before I met Margaret.
Years before any of this happened.
on the envelope.””
“Whose?””
Helen hesitated.
Then she said:
“Margaret Halston.””
I couldn't speak.
My father slowly sat down.
Because my mother had died years before I married Derek.
Years before I met Margaret.
Years before any of this happened.
So why had she left a letter with my future mother-in-law's name on it?
And what had Margaret known about my inheritance long before she ever entered ourSo why had she left a letter with my future mother-in-law's name on it?
And what had Margaret known about my inheritance long before she ever entered our family?
I looked at my father.
He was staring at the phone.
Then he whispered family?
I looked at my father.
He was staring at the phone.
Then he whispered:
“Your mother knew something about the Halston family that she never told us.””
And suddenly, the affair, the forged documents, and the stolen money no longer looked like separate betrayals.
They:
“Your mother knew something about the Halston family that she never told us.””
May you like
And suddenly, the affair, the forged documents, and the stolen money no longer looked like separate betrayals.
They looked like pieces of a much older secret. looked like pieces of a much older secret.
