Chapter 2 - THE MONEY THAT VANISHED
The police didn't arrest me.
They couldn't.
Marcus had already filed the transfer with the county recorder.
The ownership change was legal.
But Vivian had brought something else.
A lawsuit.
She claimed I had manipulated my father into transferring company assets while he was “mentally incapacitated.”
I almost laughed.
“My father is standing right here.”
The officer looked at him.
“Mr. Whitmore, are you incapacitated?”
Dad stared at Vivian.
“No.”
Her face tightened.
“He's confused.”
Dad stepped forward.
“I am not confused.”
The unknown man introduced himself.
“Richard Sloan. Whitmore Family Holdings' outside counsel.”
I looked at him.
“Not my attorney.”
“No.”
“Then don't speak for me.”
His jaw tightened.
Vivian handed the officer a folder.
“She has been planning this for months.”
I looked at the documents.
Bank statements.
Emails.
Investment records.
Everything designed to make me look like a thief.
But Marcus had warned me.
Never fight a lie with another lie.
Fight it with records.
I pulled out my phone.
“Would you like to see the original authorization?”
Richard stepped forward.
“That document is under dispute.”
“Of course it is.”
I showed the officer the digital filing.
Then the officer looked at Dad.
“Did you authorize this transfer?”
“Yes.”
“Voluntarily?”
“Yes.”
Vivian looked furious.
“Edward!”
Dad ignored her.
“I authorized it because the hotel belongs to Lena.”
The hallway went silent.
Vivian stared at him.
“You promised me.”
Dad looked at her.
“I promised you nothing.”
She slapped him.
The sound echoed through the hallway.
Nobody moved.
Dad touched his cheek.
Then he smiled sadly.
“That is exactly what your mother used to do when she was angry.”
Vivian froze.
I stared at him.
“Your mother?”
Dad looked at me.
“Vivian's mother.”
“What does she have to do with this?”
Richard stepped forward.
“Enough.”
Dad turned toward him.
“No.”
His voice was suddenly firm.
“It's time.”
Richard's expression changed.
Dad continued.
“The money wasn't stolen by Lena.”
I felt my heart race.
“It was stolen by Vivian.”
Vivian's face went pale.
“That is a lie.”
Dad pulled a flash drive from his pocket.
“She created shell companies.”
Richard grabbed his arm.
Dad shoved him away.
“Don't touch me.”
The police immediately stepped between them.
I looked at the drive.
“What is on it?”
“Everything.”
“Why didn't you tell me before?”
Dad looked ashamed.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of Vivian?”
“No.”
He looked at Richard.
“Of the people behind her.”
I frowned.
“Who?”
Dad hesitated.
“Your mother's business partners.”
“My mother had business partners?”
“Three.”
“Who?”
“Victor Crane. Harold Mercer. And Thomas Vale.”
I recognized one name.
Thomas Vale.
He was the chairman of the bank that financed the Whitmore Crown.
Dad lowered his voice.
“They all knew about the money.”
“Then why didn't Mom expose them?”
“Because she couldn't.”
“Why?”
Dad looked at me.
“Because one of them had your mother's original medical records.”
My stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
Dad didn't answer.
The elevator suddenly dinged.
A woman stepped out.
She was wearing a gray coat.
She looked directly at me.
Then at Dad.
She whispered:
“Edward, you shouldn't have told her.”
Dad went white.
I had never seen this woman before.
But my father clearly knew her.
“Who is she?” I asked.
He whispered:
“Your mother's nurse.”
The woman looked at me.
“Your mother didn't die in that hospital.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
She shook her head.
“She died two days earlier.”
Nobody spoke.
Then she handed me a photograph.
It showed my mother lying unconscious in a hospital bed.
The date was printed underneath.
Two days before the official death certificate.
May you like
And standing beside her bed was Vivian.
Holding a syringe.
