CHAPTER 9: THE MAN BEHIND THE WILL
Nathan was questioned for eleven hours.
At first, he denied everything.
Then investigators played Lauren’s recording.
Victoria’s voice could be heard ordering Lauren to sign the divorce papers.
Nathan could be heard explaining that the monthly payments would be redirected through Sable Ridge.
Finally, Daniel Voss could be heard threatening to remove Sophia permanently if Lauren disobeyed.
Nathan requested a deal.
His confession began with Edward Sterling’s death.
According to Nathan, Victoria had discovered Edward’s trust amendment six months before he died.
She confronted him.
Edward refused to change it.
Their marriage deteriorated.
Then Victoria turned to Nathan, who had been helping conceal unauthorized company payments for years.
She demanded that he prepare a false version of the will.
But she did not order Edward’s death.
Daniel Voss did.
Voss had been stealing from Sterling security contracts and feared Edward would uncover the fraud.
When Edward suffered a mild cardiac episode during a private dinner, Voss delayed calling an ambulance.
Victoria arrived minutes later.
She could have saved her husband.
Instead, she waited.
By the time emergency services were contacted, Edward was dead.
Nathan admitted he helped falsify the timeline.
In exchange, Victoria protected Voss and suppressed the trust.
Alexander listened to the recorded confession in silence.
His mother had not caused his father’s heart attack.
But she had allowed him to die.
All for control of the company.
Investigators searched Victoria’s mansion.
They discovered encrypted files, offshore accounts, and correspondence with Voss.
But Victoria herself was gone.
Security footage showed her leaving through a rear gate less than an hour after Nathan’s arrest.
She carried one suitcase.
Voss drove the car.
A nationwide search began.
Alexander returned to the hospital and told Lauren everything.
She listened quietly.
“Do you hate her?” Lauren asked.
Alexander looked toward Sophia, who was drawing pictures at the table.
“I don’t know what I feel.”
“She’s still your mother.”
“She stopped being my mother when she decided my daughter was an obstacle.”
Lauren reached for his hand.
Alexander hesitated, then allowed her fingers to close around his.
“I should have searched for you,” he said.
“You were lied to.”
“I still should have questioned it.”
“Yes.”
Her honesty hurt, but he needed it.
Lauren continued.
“We both made decisions based on fear. The difference is that Victoria created the fear.”
Sophia looked up from her drawing.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Are you going away again?”
Alexander crossed the room and knelt beside her.
“No.”
“You promise?”
He looked at Lauren.
Then back at his daughter.
“I promise I will never disappear from your life again.”
Sophia wrapped her arms around his neck.
Alexander held her tightly.
His phone vibrated.
Marcus had sent a photograph from a highway surveillance camera.
Victoria and Voss were driving north.
May you like
Toward the Sterling family estate in the Adirondacks.
The same estate where Edward had died.
