Chapter 7: The Truth About My Father
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
My phone remained pressed against my ear long after the call had disconnected.
Your father was the one who moved the eleven million dollars.
Those words repeated inside my head.
My father.
The man who had worked two jobs to pay my university tuition.
The man who repaired broken appliances instead of buying new ones.
The man who once drove forty miles in the middle of the night because I'd forgotten my medication at his house.
The man who had taught me that honesty was worth more than money.
I looked at Richard.
He was staring at me.
"What did Margaret say?""
I lowered my phone.
"She said my father moved the eleven million dollars.""
Richard closed his eyes.
Marcus stepped forward.
"That's impossible.""
I turned toward him.
"She sounded certain.""
"Your father wouldn't do that, Nia.""
Richard slowly removed his glasses.
"There's something I need to tell you.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Apparently, everyone has something they need to tell me tonight.""
Richard accepted the accusation without defending himself.
"Your father was never officially employed by Hale Industries. But he helped your mother maintain the financial records after she left the company.""
"Why?""
"Because your mother discovered that the company was being used to hide illegal payments. She believed someone was preparing to destroy the evidence.""
Marcus crossed his arms.
"Who?""
Richard hesitated.
"Your grandfather.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I stared at him.
"You're saying Marcus's grandfather was involved?""
"Not in the beginning," Richard replied.
"But later, he became involved in a desperate attempt to protect the company.""
I shook my head.
"That doesn't explain my father.""
Richard continued.
"Your father discovered that eleven million dollars had been transferred out of the company. He moved the money into a protected account before the people responsible could withdraw it.""
Marcus frowned.
"Then why was he accused of stealing it?""
"Because the account was registered under a company connected to him.""
I looked at the old photograph.
My father.
My mother.
Richard Hale Senior.
Three people standing together outside a building that no longer existed.
"Where is the money now?"" I asked.
Richard didn't answer.
Instead, he walked toward the window.
"That's what nobody has been able to establish.""
I stared at him.
"You're telling me eleven million dollars disappeared?""
"No. I'm telling you that the money was moved into an account whose ownership was deliberately concealed.""
"And my father took the blame?""
Richard turned.
"He believed that was the only way to keep the money out of the wrong hands.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Why didn't he tell anyone?""
"Because someone threatened your mother.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Who?""
Richard looked at me.
"Daniel.""
I remembered the attorney's calm voice.
His polished shoes.
The way he had explained the prenuptial agreement.
The way he had stood in my bridal suite with Bianca, discussing documents as though my life were a business transaction.
"Why didn't you report him?""
Richard's expression darkened.
"Your father tried. The evidence disappeared before the investigation could proceed.""
"Then what happened on October 14?""
Richard lowered his eyes.
"Your father died that night.""
The words came out slowly.
"An accident.""
I nodded.
I remembered the phone call.
The police officer standing outside our family home.
My mother sitting on the kitchen floor.
The terrible sound she made when she learned my father wouldn't be coming home.
For years, I'd believed he had lost control of his car during a rainstorm.
I had never questioned it.
"Was it really an accident?"" I whispered.
Richard looked away.
"I don't know.""
Marcus immediately turned toward him.
"What do you mean, you don't know?""
Richard took a long breath.
"Your father had called me that evening. He said he had discovered something about the missing money. He wanted to meet me at the old bank.""
"Did you meet him?""
"No.""
"Why?""
Richard's voice broke.
"Because I was afraid.""
I stared at him.
He continued.
"I received a message telling me that if I went to that meeting, my family would be in danger. I believed it was an empty threat. But I stayed away.""
"And my father died.""
Richard nodded.
"I've regretted that decision every day.""
I stepped backward.
For a moment, I couldn't bear to look at him.
Then my phone rang again.
This time, the number was saved.
MARGARET.
I answered immediately.
"Aunt Margaret?""
"Listen carefully, Nia. You must not trust Richard.""
Richard looked toward me.
I raised my hand, asking him to remain silent.
Margaret continued.
"Your father didn't steal the money. He was trying to return it to the people who had been robbed.""
"Who?""
"The employees.""
I frowned.
"What employees?""
"Your grandfather had created a pension reserve for thousands of workers. Someone diverted part of that reserve into private accounts. Your father found out.""
Marcus moved closer.
"What did she say?""
I repeated the question.
Margaret answered before I could ask again.
"Your father moved the money because the original pension account was about to be emptied. He transferred it into a protected trust to keep it safe.""
Richard suddenly spoke.
"Margaret, tell her who controlled the trust.""
There was silence.
Then my aunt said something unexpected.
"Your mother did.""
I looked at Richard.
He nodded faintly.
Margaret continued.
"And she left instructions that the money could only be released by someone who wasn't part of the Hale family.""
My stomach twisted.
"Me?""
"Yes, sweetheart.""
I looked at Marcus.
He was watching me carefully.
"Why me?""
"Because your mother believed the Hales would eventually turn against one another. She wanted someone outside the family to protect the workers' money.""
I swallowed.
"Then why did Bianca want the documents?""
"Because she knows the trust exists.""
Margaret's voice became urgent.
"She has been searching for it for years. Daniel promised her that if she could obtain control of the original records, she could claim the money as part of the family estate.""
"But it's not the family's money.""
"No. It belongs to the employees.""
I looked down at my hands.
My wedding ring was still on my finger.
The ring Marcus had placed there only hours earlier.
I had imagined that day as the beginning of a beautiful life.
Instead, I was discovering that my marriage had placed me in the middle of a conspiracy that began before I was born.
"Where are you, Aunt Margaret?""
She hesitated.
"Outside your building.""
I rushed toward the window.
The black SUV was still there.
A woman stood beside it, wearing a dark coat and holding a walking stick.
Even from seven floors above, I recognized her face.
"Come upstairs," I said.
"No.""
My heart sank.
"Why?""
"Because someone has been following me.""
I looked toward the street.
A second vehicle had pulled up behind the SUV.
Its headlights went dark.
Margaret whispered:
"Nia, they know I have the final key.""
Then the phone went silent.
A second later, someone downstairs screamed.
Marcus rushed toward the door.
I followed him.
And as the elevator doors opened, I saw two men dragging an elderly woman toward the black SUV.
May you like
My aunt.
And one of them was holding a photograph of me.
