Chapter 13 - Richard’s Lie
Richard tried to remain calm.
“These documents are irrelevant.”
Marcus shook his head.
“They are originals.”
Richard looked at Julian.
“You promised me the files were destroyed.”
Julian's face tightened.
“I thought they were.”
His wife looked between them.
“So you two discussed destroying them.”
Neither answered.
Richard turned toward the board.
“This is a private family dispute.”
One board member shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed toward the financial records.
“This is corporate fraud.”
Richard's confidence disappeared.
He tried to explain the transfers.
He blamed Julian.
Then Julian blamed Richard.
Their alliance collapsed in seconds.
“You told me the transactions were legal,” Julian said.
Richard laughed.
“You signed them.”
“You handled the paperwork.”
“You approved the money.”
The room went silent.
His wife watched both men.
For years, they had hidden behind one another.
Now they were tearing each other apart.
Richard suddenly pointed toward Chloe.
“She knew.”
Chloe shook her head.
“No.”
“You knew Julian was moving money.”
“I knew nothing about the accounts.”
Richard turned toward Julian.
“You told her.”
Julian looked away.
Chloe's eyes filled with disbelief.
“You told me it was your money.”
Julian whispered:
“I was going to fix it.”
Chloe laughed bitterly.
“You were going to fix it with her money.”
The truth had finally become impossible to disguise.
His wife closed the folder.
“I don't care who started it.”
Everyone looked at her.
“You both participated.”
Julian lowered his head.
Richard suddenly reached for his phone.
Daniel stopped him.
“Don't.”
Richard froze.
“Why?”
“Because I know who you're calling.”
Richard looked at him.
Daniel said:
“Your attorney.”
Richard smiled faintly.
“Yes.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
He placed another recording on the table.
Richard's own voice.
Discussing the forged signature.
Discussing the trust.
Discussing Julian.
Richard's smile vanished.
May you like
👉 Richard had one last defense—but the recording proved he had planned the forgery long before Julian realized how far the scheme would go.
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