Chapter 12 - Vanessa Loses Everything
The vault door opened at twelve fifteen.
Vanessa stood outside.
Her confidence returned immediately.
“Well?”
Emily stepped toward her.
“It went through.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
“No.”
Samuel held up the confirmation.
“Eleven fifty-nine and forty-seven seconds.”
Vanessa grabbed the page.
She read.
Then froze.
Emily watched her reach the second section.
Vale Capital Group.
Thirty-eight percent.
Vanessa looked up.
“That’s impossible.”
Samuel shook his head.
“Your father financed the company using trust assets he moved through shell accounts.”
“No.”
“He never owned those shares free and clear.”
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
“Do something.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You framed my employee.”
He corrected himself.
“My niece.”
Vanessa flinched.
“You lied to me for six months.”
“Daniel.”
“You planted evidence.”
“I did it for us.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You did it for control.”
Vanessa looked at Emily.
“This is because of you.”
Emily stared back.
“No.”
“This happened because your father stole from mine.”
Vanessa slapped Emily again.
Or tried to.
This time Emily caught her wrist.
The corridor went silent.
Emily did not hit her back.
She simply held Vanessa’s wrist and looked into her eyes.
“You already got one.”
Then she released her.
Daniel’s security team arrived.
The corrupt guard was removed.
Vanessa shouted as they escorted her upstairs.
“You think you won?”
Emily said nothing.
“You don’t know what was in the red ledger!”
Samuel’s face tightened.
Vanessa saw it.
She smiled.
“Ask him.”
Emily turned.
Samuel looked away.
“What else is in it?”
He did not answer.
Daniel took the ledger.
He flipped through pages.
Near the center, one section had been cut out.
Carefully.
Professionally.
Emily stared.
“Pages are missing.”
Samuel whispered, “Yes.”
“Who removed them?”
“I don’t know.”
Vanessa laughed from the stairwell.
“My father did.”
Everyone turned.
She smiled.
“And he hid them where Clara would never find them.”
Emily stepped forward.
“Where?”
Vanessa’s eyes glittered.
“You want the answer?”
May you like
“Yes.”
“Then visit my father’s grave.”
