Chapter 14 - CLAIRE’S NAME
Police listening outside heard every word.
Claire kept Victor talking.
“Who am I?”
Victor tilted his head.
“You’re Rose Bennett’s daughter.”
“I know that.”
“No.”
He smiled.
“You know half of it.”
Victor told her Rose had not merely discovered Hawthorne fraud.
She had been born into one of the families whose property Eleanor’s father had taken.
Rose’s grandfather once owned nearly twenty percent of the land that became Hawthorne Development’s first major portfolio.
If the original fraud were proven, Rose’s direct heir could claim restitution.
Claire.
“How much?”
She asked.
Victor laughed softly.
“Enough to make you the largest individual claimant against the Hawthorne estate.”
Ethan heard the conversation from the police van.
His expression hardened.
Victor continued.
“When Eleanor realized Rose had hidden the original ledger, she planned to bring you close.”
“That part I know.”
“But she never expected Rose to preserve the original deeds.”
Claire froze.
“What deeds?”
Victor stared at the bag.
“Inside the ledger.”
Claire understood.
The black book was more than accounting evidence.
Its cover concealed original property assignments.
If authenticated, Claire might legally control assets Eleanor spent her whole life protecting.
“So Eleanor pushed me because she thought I had become the biggest threat to Hawthorne Holdings.”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her?”
Victor smiled.
“I told everyone what they needed to hear.”
Claire looked toward Maria.
“Why kidnap her?”
“She saw too much.”
Maria suddenly kicked Victor behind the knee.
The gun fell.
Claire lunged.
Police stormed the warehouse.
Victor was arrested within seconds.
Maria ran into Claire’s arms.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re safe.”
Victor laughed as officers handcuffed him.
“You think this ends with me?”
Claire turned.
May you like
He looked directly at Ethan through the open warehouse door.
“Ask your husband what he signed six years ago.”
