Chapter 7 - THE LAST LIETwo years after Julian's removal, his attorney contacted me.
“He wants to meet.”
“No.”
“He says it's important.”
“No.”
“He's offering information.”
That made me pause.
“What information?”
“He claims your sister wasn't the only person involved.”
My heart stopped.
“Who else?”
“He won't tell us unless you meet him.”
I agreed.
Not because I wanted to see him.
Because I wanted the truth.
We met in a conference room.
Julian looked different.
Older.
Tired.
He sat across from me.
“You look good.”
“Don't.”
He nodded.
“I deserve that.”
“What do you want?”
He took a breath.
“I lied about one thing.”
“Only one?”
He almost smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
“The $3.2 million transfer wasn't for my debt.”
“Then what was it?”
He slid a document toward me.
I read it.
My heart dropped.
The money had been transferred to an account controlled by my father.
I looked up.
“What is this?”
Julian smiled.
“Ask your father.”
I left immediately.
I called my father.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Did you receive $3.2 million from Julian?”
Silence.
“Dad?”
He sighed.
“I was going to tell you.”
My heart pounded.
“What?”
“Come home.”
I drove to his house.
He was waiting.
And the truth was nothing like what Julian had suggested.
My father had discovered Julian's theft months before I did.
He had secretly purchased the debt.
Not to help Julian.
To protect the company.
The $3.2 million had been used to prevent creditors from seizing critical assets.
I stared at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wanted you to decide what to do without my influence.”
I hugged him.
For the first time in months, I cried.
Not because I was hurt.
Because I realized how many people had been quietly protecting me while I thought I was alone.
Then my father said something that changed everything.
“There's one more thing.”
“What?”
“Julian never told you who discovered the offshore account.”
I looked at him.
May you like
“It was Chloe.”
My heart stopped.
