Chapter 9 - THE MAN WHO WASN'T THE VILLAIN
For three days, Clara believed her biological father might have paid someone to murder Casey Vane.
The idea made her physically sick.
Samuel Hayes had spent twenty years trying to protect his family.
At least, that was what Isabella said.
But the bank records appeared to connect his name to Anthony Russo's payment.
Clara needed answers.
Not another reassuring story.
Her attorney arranged for an independent forensic accountant to examine the transfer.
The results were surprising.
The payment hadn't originated from Samuel's personal account.
It came from a shell company using his name.
The account was controlled by a trust administrator connected to Northbridge Biomedical.
Clara exhaled shakily.
"Someone framed him."
The accountant nodded.
"That's a strong possibility."
Casey looked toward the documents.
"Who controlled the account?"
A name appeared.
Richard Lang.
The restaurant manager.
The former doctor.
The man who'd spent months treating Clara like she was worthless.
Clara stared.
"Richard."
Casey's expression hardened.
"He arranged the payment."
The accountant nodded cautiously.
"The records show his authorized credentials were used."
But that wasn't the entire story.
Investigators discovered a series of withdrawals from the Vane Foundation.
The money moved through companies tied to Northbridge's old research program.
Some transactions were nearly twenty years old.
Others were recent.
Casey reviewed the records.
For years, he'd donated millions to the foundation.
He believed the money supported children's hospitals.
Now he was discovering that some of it had been diverted.
His face went pale.
"I financed this."
Clara looked toward him.
"You didn't know."
"That doesn't change what happened."
He stood.
For the first time since she'd met him, Casey looked genuinely ashamed.
He had built his reputation on power.
Control.
Fear.
But he'd never asked enough questions about the charitable organization carrying his family name.
"I should've checked."
Clara nodded slowly.
"Yes."
He looked at her.
She continued.
"But you can help fix it now."
For a moment, he seemed surprised.
Then he nodded.
"You're right."
The following morning, Casey authorized an independent audit of the Vane Foundation.
All disputed transactions were preserved.
Several executives were suspended pending review.
And financial investigators began tracing the diverted funds.
Then Lucia Vane, Casey's aunt, contacted him.
She was seventy-three and had lived quietly in Milwaukee since Anthony's supposed death.
"Casey," she said, "there's something you should know."
He listened.
Her voice trembled.
"Your father wasn't the person directing Northbridge."
Casey frowned.
"What?"
"He helped conceal things. But someone else controlled the medical and financial operations."
"Who?"
A long silence followed.
Then Lucia whispered, "Your uncle."
Casey's stomach tightened.
"Uncle Vincent?"
"Yes."
Vincent Vane.
Anthony's younger brother.
The man who had managed the family's legal businesses for decades.
The man Casey still trusted to oversee several foundations.
Lucia continued.
"Vincent took control of Northbridge after Isabella disappeared."
Casey felt cold.
May you like
Then she revealed the secret that explained everything.
"Vincent is the reason your father pretended to die."
