Chapter 18 - The Woman Who Betrayed Them All
Mara had disappeared.
For forty-eight hours, authorities searched every property connected to her.
Nothing.
Then Claire received an email.
Subject: I owe you the truth.
The message contained a location.
A church outside town.
Claire went there with federal protection.
Mara was waiting.
She looked exhausted.
“I didn't shoot Wesley.”
Claire said nothing.
“I know.”
Mara looked relieved.
“Peter did not plan that.”
“Then who?”
Mara hesitated.
“Caleb.”
Claire froze.
“No.”
“He wanted Wesley removed from the inheritance.”
“Why?”
“Because he believes the company should belong to his bloodline.”
“My son is his bloodline.”
“Yes.”
Mara looked at her.
“But Caleb isn't the man you think he is.”
Claire felt another crack forming.
“What did he do?”
“He spent years manipulating Martin.”
“Why?”
“To protect Wesley.”
Claire stared.
“That's the same excuse everyone uses.”
Mara nodded.
“I know.”
She handed Claire the original succession agreement.
“I stole it because Peter was going to destroy it.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
Mara's eyes filled with tears.
“But you can trust this.”
She gave Claire a recording.
Caleb's voice.
He was speaking to Peter.
“If Wesley becomes the controlling heir, I lose the company.”
Peter answered.
“You lose nothing.”
“I lose control.”
“Then make him sign.”
Caleb paused.
“And Claire?”
“She won't cooperate.”
“Then separate her from him.”
Claire felt sick.
Caleb had not been protecting her.
He had been playing both sides.
Mara explained that Caleb had funded Peter's earlier operation.
He had helped create the legal trap.
He had even helped recruit Mara.
“All those years,” Claire whispered.
“He was waiting for the right moment.”
“What does he want?”
“Control of the company.”
“And Wesley?”
“He wants Wesley to transfer it willingly.”
Claire took a step back.
“Where is he?”
Mara looked toward the window.
“He'll come to you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I told him where I was.”
Claire stared.
“You set a trap.”
“Yes.”
“For Caleb.”
Mara nodded.
“I knew you were the only person he would trust enough to approach.”
Claire looked at the recording.
Then at Mara.
“What about Martin?”
Mara started crying.
“Martin knew.”
Claire froze.
“He knew Caleb was manipulating him.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't he stop him?”
“Because Caleb was Wesley's biological father.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“He wanted him to have a relationship with his son someday.”
“And instead?”
“Caleb wanted control.”
A car arrived outside.
Mara whispered, “He's here.”
Caleb entered.
He saw Claire.
His face fell.
“You shouldn't have come.”
“You've been lying to me.”
“I was protecting Wesley.”
“No.”
Claire held up the recording.
“You were protecting yourself.”
Caleb looked at Mara.
“You betrayed me.”
Mara shook her head.
“I stopped helping you.”
Caleb laughed bitterly.
“You always were weak.”
Claire stepped between them.
“Why?”
Caleb looked at her.
“Because the company should have belonged to Wesley.”
“It will.”
“But not the way I want.”
“You don't get to decide.”
Caleb's face hardened.
“You have no idea what your father built.”
Claire stared.
“My father built something good.”
“He built power.”
“And you wanted it.”
“Yes.”
“More than your son?”
Caleb stopped.
For the first time, he looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then he lowered his weapon.
“I thought if Wesley controlled the company, I could finally fix everything.”
“You could have just been his father.”
Caleb's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know how.”
Claire's voice softened.
“Then learn.”
Federal agents entered.
Caleb surrendered.
The last of the network collapsed.
But before he was taken away, he looked at Wesley.
“I am sorry.”
Wesley didn't answer.
Caleb lowered his head.
“I should have been there.”
Wesley finally spoke.
May you like
“You weren't.”
And Caleb knew there was no argument against the truth.
