Chapter 3 - The Money TrailThe first suspicious transaction was only $250,000.
Then another.
Then $900,000.
Then $2.4 million.
Within a week, the auditors had traced more than $18 million in company funds.
All connected to Paige.
Luxury apartment.
Medical expenses.
Private travel.
Jewelry.
A production company.
And several shell consulting firms.
But the most disturbing transaction was different.
It involved a fertility clinic.
I stared at the document.
“Why would company money go to a fertility clinic?”
Rebecca looked at me.
“We're finding out.”
The investigators contacted the clinic.
The clinic refused to speak without a court order.
We obtained one.
Then everything changed.
The twins had been born through assisted reproduction.
Their birth certificates listed Connor as the father.
But the fertility records told another story.
The biological material used in the procedure had not come from Connor.
It had come from an anonymous donor.
Connor knew.
Or at least someone had told him.
I looked at Rebecca.
“So the twins aren't biologically his.”
“Correct.”
“Does Paige know?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did she claim they were?”
Rebecca slid another document toward me.
A contract.
Beatrice had signed it.
The agreement promised Paige $40 million after the birth of “legitimate Albright heirs.”
My stomach turned.
“They planned this.”
“Yes.”
“But why?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“Because of succession.”
I looked at her.
“Explain.”
“If Connor had legitimate biological heirs, your position as controlling shareholder could eventually be challenged through several estate mechanisms.”
“But they aren't his children.”
“Exactly.”
The twins weren't just babies.
They were part of a financial strategy.
Someone had created a false narrative around them.
And Connor had gone along with it.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
“Gwen.”
“Did you know the twins weren't biologically yours?”
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.”
My heart sank.
“How long?”
“Before they were born.”
“Why?”
“My mother said it didn't matter.”
“Didn't matter?”
“She said the family needed heirs.”
I closed my eyes.
“You knew they weren't yours and still brought them home.”
“I thought I could make it work.”
“With Paige?”
“I didn't love her.”
“Then why?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of losing everything.”
I laughed quietly.
“You should have been afraid of losing me.”
He became silent.
Then I asked:
“Who is the biological father?”
“I don't know.”
I knew he was lying.
“Connor.”
“I don't know.”
“Then we'll find out.”
I ended the call.
Rebecca looked at me.
“What are you thinking?”
I looked at the fertility records.
“I think those babies have a father.”
May you like
“And?”
“And someone has spent a lot of money making sure we never find him.”
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