Chapter 13 - THE FAMILY EMPIRE BUILT ON LIES
The Duval family's fortune had always looked untouchable.
Luxury hotels.
Investment companies.
Private aviation.
A foundation named after Julian's grandfather.
But behind the elegant photographs and polished speeches, investigators were uncovering decades of deception.
Julian's father, Henri Duval, had died five years earlier.
For most of our marriage, Julian spoke of him as a brilliant businessman who demanded excellence.
Now evidence suggested Henri and Vivienne had tried to obtain the Bennett-Lancaster research rights through financial pressure and corporate manipulation.
When negotiations failed, the dispute escalated.
The hospital fire remained under investigation.
But the newly discovered witness account and financial records placed the Duval family at the center of the inquiry.
I sat in Rachel's office while she explained.
"Khloe, Julian may not have known everything his parents did twenty-two years ago."
I looked at her.
"But he knew enough to manipulate my medical records."
"Yes."
"And enough to hide money in my name."
"Yes."
I took a breath.
"Then he can answer for what he actually did."
Rachel nodded.
That afternoon, federal investigators detained Julian at a private airport before his scheduled international flight.
He was questioned about the fraudulent accounts and suspected medical-data offenses.
His passport was temporarily surrendered under court supervision.
When the news broke, reporters surrounded Duval Holdings.
The same journalists who'd once mocked my absence from public events now wanted interviews.
I declined.
There would be time to speak when the facts were clearer.
I wasn't interested in humiliating Julian.
I wanted accountability.
And peace.
But Julian wasn't finished trying to control the story.
Through his attorneys, he released a statement claiming he'd been deceived by Dalia and several former executives.
He insisted I had misunderstood everything.
The statement ended with a sentence that made me laugh bitterly.
I have always wanted what's best for Khloe.
Gabriel found me reading it.
"Are you okay?"
I looked up.
"Strangely, yes."
He smiled.
"Good."
I placed the phone aside.
"I spent years believing the worst thing that could happen was people thinking I wasn't good enough."
"And now?"
"Now I know their opinions aren't my responsibility."
Gabriel sat beside me.
For a moment, the world felt quiet.
Then Rachel called.
"Khloe, we have a problem."
I closed my eyes.
"What now?"
"The investigators found an additional trust document."
My heart tightened.
"Another one?"
"Yes. It was executed shortly before your father's death."
I listened.
"The document creates a special beneficiary fund for any child legally recognized as your biological descendant."
I stared at Gabriel.
My hand moved instinctively to my stomach.
Rachel continued.
"The fund was designed to provide long-term educational and medical support for future generations."
"That's wonderful," I whispered.
"It is. But someone has submitted a competing claim."
My heart stopped.
"What kind of claim?"
Rachel hesitated.
"A person is alleging that your pregnancy predates your relationship with Gabriel."
I went cold.
"Who?"
Rachel took a breath.
"Julian."
May you like
Then she added the words that made the entire room seem to collapse.
"He's claiming your unborn son is his biological child."
