Chapter 18 - The False Victory
Claire did not confront Edward immediately.
She smiled.
She attended the emergency board meeting.
She let him congratulate her.
“You handled today remarkably well.”
Claire looked at the man who might be holding both her mothers.
“Dad taught me.”
Edward smiled.
“Thomas was a good man.”
Claire wanted to hit him.
Instead, she poured coffee.
Investigators quietly traced Evelyn’s call.
The signal came from an abandoned Voss warehouse outside Stamford.
Claire texted the location to the lead agent.
Then Edward’s phone vibrated.
He looked at it.
His expression barely changed.
But he stood.
“I have another meeting.”
Claire smiled.
“Of course.”
Agents followed him.
Two hours later, Evelyn and Sarah were found alive in an office inside the warehouse.
Edward was arrested while attempting to leave through a loading entrance.
The evidence inside was devastating.
Archived financial records.
Photographs.
Copies of Sarah’s letters.
And Alexander’s missing master recording.
Claire listened to her biological father’s voice for the first time.
On the tape, Alexander confronted Richard Mercer and Edward Grant.
He accused them of embezzlement.
Richard threatened him.
Edward threatened Sarah.
Then the recording ended.
It was enough to establish decades of conspiracy.
Claire thought it was over.
Then investigators found one more file.
Recent.
Created three months earlier.
JULIAN MERCER - SUCCESSION PLAN.
Claire opened it.
Julian had planned to remove Edward after gaining control of Voss.
He had secretly recorded Edward admitting what happened to Alexander.
Julian was not merely his father’s obedient son.
He had been preparing to blackmail every surviving conspirator.
Claire confronted him at his attorney’s office.
“You knew Edward helped kill Alexander.”
Julian looked exhausted.
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing.”
“I needed proof.”
“You needed leverage.”
He did not deny it.
Claire placed the succession plan in front of him.
“You planned to destroy Edward after you used him.”
“Yes.”
“And Natalie?”
Julian looked away.
“Owen?”
Silence.
“Me?”
Julian finally looked at her.
“I did love you.”
Claire almost laughed.
“Which year?”
His face tightened.
“I married you because my father told me to.”
“There it is.”
“But somewhere along the way, it became real.”
Claire shook her head.
“You don’t get credit for developing feelings for the woman you defrauded.”
Julian whispered, “Claire.”
She stood.
“Our marriage is over.”
Then he said something that stopped her.
“Before you go, ask your mother why Thomas died.”
Claire slowly turned.
“You know why?”
Julian’s eyes met hers.
May you like
“I know he didn’t have a heart attack.”
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