Chapter 9 - THE ATTORNEY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Amelia stared at the name.
Her attorney had represented her for six years.
She had trusted him.
He had handled her finances.
Her divorce documents.
Her inheritance.
Everything.
Theodore looked at the list.
“Call him.”
Amelia did.
No answer.
She called again.
Nothing.
Then she received a text.
You should have left the ring alone.
Her blood went cold.
Graham saw the message.
“He's working for Samuel.”
“No.”
Theodore shook his head.
“Samuel was arrested.”
“Then who sent it?”
Silence.
The answer came ten minutes later.
Police arrived with news.
Samuel had been attacked in custody.
He was unconscious.
Someone had entered the facility using forged credentials.
The conspiracy wasn't over.
The attorney had disappeared.
And the Hale Trust had been accessed again.
Amelia returned to the vault.
She entered the verification phrase.
The system opened.
Inside was one final file.
Her mother had recorded it before her disappearance.
Amelia,
If you are watching this, you have finally found the truth.
But there is something I need you to understand.
The Hale family did not destroy itself because of money.
It destroyed itself because everyone believed they deserved power more than they deserved forgiveness.
Amelia cried.
Her mother continued.
Your father tried to save me.
Theodore tried to save you.
Margaret tried to save herself.
Samuel wanted revenge.
And Graham will have to decide what kind of man he wants to become.
The recording ended.
Graham stood behind Amelia.
“I heard that.”
She turned.
He looked different.
Older somehow.
“You don't owe me anything,” he said.
“I know.”
“I've filed for divorce.”
Amelia nodded.
“I know.”
“I won't fight you for the company.”
She looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because it isn't mine.”
He paused.
“And neither were you.”
Amelia said nothing.
Graham walked away.
For the first time, he didn't ask her to stay.
He didn't demand forgiveness.
He simply accepted the consequences.
Amelia returned to the dining room.
The same room where Celeste had once displayed the sapphire.
The same room where Theodore had exposed the truth.
She looked at the empty chair where Graham had sat.
Then she looked at Theodore.
“What happens now?”
He smiled.
“Now you decide.”
“Decide what?”
“Whether the Hale name remains what it was…”
He placed the family registry before her.
“…or whether you create something better.”
Amelia closed the registry.
“I choose better.”
May you like
Theodore smiled.
“Then the family finally has an heir.”
