Chapter 18 - THE LAST PARTNER
The transfer led to a law firm.
Jonathan Hale looked just as shocked.
“That’s impossible.”
“Who controls your client trust account?”
“Three partners.”
“Names.”
One stopped everyone.
Edward’s younger brother.
Nathan had barely seen Peter in years.
Always “above the family drama.”
Peter was arrested at his Connecticut home.
In his study, investigators found copies of every document used against Grace.
The fake psychiatric report.
The trust amendments.
The recent kidnapping plan.
Nathan visited him once.
“Why?”
“Because your father left me nothing.”
“You helped Conrad because Dad cut you out?”
“Edward took everything.”
“So you targeted a pregnant woman?”
“She was leverage.”
Nathan’s face hardened.
“And Lily?”
“A complication.”
“You think you’re different? You gave up the company for a child you’ve known a week.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s how I know I’m different.”
Peter’s arrest completed the conspiracy.
Conrad wanted control.
Edward wanted legacy.
Victoria wanted inheritance.
Peter wanted revenge.
Brenner wanted influence.
Each person told themselves their reason was special.
Grace and Lily paid for all of them.
The media moved on and returned and moved on again.
Nathan rented a house three streets from Grace.
A normal place with a small yard.
Lily visited twice a week.
At first, Grace stayed.
Then she waited in the car.
Then she trusted Nathan for an hour alone.
One Saturday, Lily handed him a plastic tea cup.
“You have to drink it.”
“No. Real pretend.”
He had no idea what that meant.
Then Lily asked, “Why didn’t you find me?”
His smile disappeared.
“Because people lied to me.”
“Did Mommy lie?”
“No.”
“Did you?”
Nathan thought carefully.
“I lied to myself about my family.”
Then she said, “Mommy says you’re learning.”
“I am.”
Grace stood outside holding another sealed envelope. Her face was pale.
“What?”
She handed it to Nathan.
May you like
“It came from your father’s old safe.”
FOR NATHAN, AFTER THE EMPIRE IS GONE.
