Chapter 18 - THOMAS'S CONFESSION
Thomas survived.
Barely.
Doctors stabilized him under guard.
Vivian agreed to hear him by video.
Grant hated the idea.
She insisted.
Thomas appeared on the screen wearing a hospital gown.
For the first time, he looked old.
"Vivian."
She said nothing.
"I loved you."
Her expression did not change.
"You loved control."
"Maybe."
Brooks recorded everything.
Thomas admitted the theft.
The forged trust documents.
The payments.
The plan to make Vivian appear dead.
He insisted he never meant for her to be buried alive.
Vivian's voice stayed calm.
"What did you think happened after the funeral?"
"I thought Rebecca's dose would stop your heart eventually."
Vivian held up one hand.
He sat again.
"Why?" she asked.
Thomas began to cry.
Not beautifully.
Not convincingly.
Just an old man finally hearing himself.
"Because you were going to destroy everything."
"No. I was going to expose what you did."
"Same thing."
"No."
Thomas looked at Elise, who had joined the call from another room.
"I did it for this family."
Elise whispered, "Stop saying that."
"I protected you."
"You terrorized us."
"I gave you everything."
"You taught us that love was a debt."
"Your mother understood."
"My mother hated what you became."
Vivian knew.
Her mother's private journals were in Box 418.
She had discovered Thomas stealing from the foundation years before her death.
Cancer had prevented her from fighting him.
So she created the hidden trust.
Thomas had spent twelve years trying to regain control.
Now he had confessed.
Brooks ended the call.
Grant kissed her forehead.
It should have felt finished.
Then Brooks said, "We have one unresolved problem."
"The first threatening text to Rosa."
DELETE THE MESSAGE OR THE NEXT COFFIN IS YOURS.
"Thomas denies sending it. Martin denies it. Rebecca's phone records clear her."
Grant frowned.
"Then who sent it?"
May you like
Elise slowly lifted her eyes.
"It was me."
