Chapter 7 - THE LAST BETRAYAL
I didn't believe Jason.
Not completely.
But Daniel did.
“Your father could have transferred the assets years ago,” he said.
My father remained silent.
I turned toward him.
“Did you order the transfer?”
“No.”
“Then why did Jason say you did?”
My father looked at Rachel.
“Because Jason just discovered the second account.”
“What second account?”
Daniel opened his laptop.
Within minutes, he had located a series of international transfers.
The money had moved through six shell companies.
The final destination was a private foundation.
The foundation's director was…
Eleanor Mitchell.
Jason's mother.
Daniel leaned back.
“She has been siphoning money from the company for years.”
My father nodded.
“And Jason discovered it six months ago.”
That explained everything.
The mistress.
The divorce.
The drained accounts.
The sudden attempt to take everything.
Jason hadn't been preparing to leave me with nothing.
He had been trying to move money before Eleanor could take it.
But he had crossed a line.
He had used my name.
Forged documents.
Transferred assets.
And humiliated me publicly.
He had protected himself by destroying me.
I stood.
“I don't care why he did it.”
My father looked at me.
“What will you do?”
I thought about the courtroom.
The scars.
The humiliation.
The years of lies.
“I'll finish what he started.”
The next morning, the judge reconvened the hearing.
Jason entered alone.
No Madison.
No family.
No confidence.
His attorney looked exhausted.
Daniel stood beside me.
“Your Honor, we have new evidence.”
The judge nodded.
Daniel presented the financial records.
Then the trust.
Then Robert's recording.
Then Rachel's testimony.
Finally, my father walked into the courtroom.
Jason looked at him.
“Mr. Carter?”
My father nodded.
Jason whispered:
“You're alive.”
“Yes.”
The judge demanded an explanation.
My father told the truth.
For nearly an hour.
Then Jason stood.
“I didn't kill anyone.”
Nobody had accused him yet.
That sentence changed the room.
The judge leaned forward.
“Mr. Mitchell, sit down.”
But Jason looked at me.
“Iris, you have to believe me.”
I didn't answer.
Then Madison entered.
She was carrying a folder.
“I have proof,” she said.
Jason turned.
“Madison…”
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
She placed the folder on the judge's desk.
Inside was a photograph.
Robert Mitchell.
May you like
Alive.
Taken two weeks after his supposed death.
