Chapter 12 - MIA'S FINAL CONFESSION
We did not let Beatrice go alone.
Claire contacted the investigators, and a team traced the message to an abandoned office building near the river.
Mia was waiting in an empty conference room.
She looked frightened and exhausted.
When she saw me, she immediately stood.
"Harper, I'm sorry."
I kept my distance.
"Tell me why you used your identification to sell the recorder."
"I didn't. Someone stole my purse last week."
She opened her handbag and removed a flash drive.
"I copied the files before the recorder disappeared. I knew Richard was going to blame me if anything went wrong."
"Why didn't you come to me?"
Mia's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I had already betrayed you."
She admitted that Julian had asked her to find the documents I kept in my home office. He told her they were needed for the divorce and promised she would never have to worry about money again.
She had entered my office while I was away and photographed several financial records.
Later, she discovered the documents were being used to build a false case against me.
"I tried to stop it," she whispered. "But Richard threatened to report my mother for insurance fraud if I told anyone."
I felt anger rise, followed by a terrible exhaustion.
"You should have told the truth anyway."
"I know."
Mia gave the flash drive to Claire.
The files included emails, bank records, and a spreadsheet listing every fraudulent transfer. Several entries had been approved using my firm's digital credentials, but the access logs showed the credentials had been duplicated from a computer in Richard's office.
There was also a video.
It showed Julian entering my home office late one night and copying a security key from my desk.
I watched the footage in silence.
He had looked around before taking it, then placed everything back exactly where he found it.
He had known how to make the theft invisible.
The investigators took the drive and began verifying the evidence.
Mia agreed to provide a formal statement.
Before we left, she approached me.
"I don't expect you to forgive me."
"Good," I said. "Because forgiveness isn't something you get to demand."
She nodded, tears running down her cheeks.
"But I hope one day you believe I never wanted you to suffer."
I looked at the young woman I had once treated like family.
"I hope one day you understand that kindness isn't permission to use someone."
Then Claire's phone rang.
She listened, asked two questions, and slowly turned toward me.
"The bank has frozen the disputed transfers."
May you like
I exhaled for what felt like the first time in days.
Then she added, "But Richard has filed a complaint accusing you of stealing the foundation's money."
