Chapter 18 - WHAT JULIAN REALLY DID
My mother finally told me everything.
Six years ago, she had discovered the fraud.
Richard was stealing from the family companies.
Grant was secretly trying to recover his assets.
My grandfather had taken control of everything.
And Julian had discovered the truth.
"He came to me," my mother said.
"When?"
"Before he left you."
I stared at her.
"You knew Julian before the affair?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"He came to me because he was afraid."
"Of Richard?"
"Yes."
"Then why did he betray me?"
My mother looked away.
"Because Richard threatened Noah."
I closed my eyes.
The memories returned.
Julian coming home late.
His coldness.
The hotel charges.
The lies.
Victoria.
The divorce.
All of it.
"Was the affair real?"
My mother nodded.
"Yes."
I looked down.
"So he loved me and still cheated."
"Yes."
There was no excuse.
No secret that could make that acceptable.
I whispered:
"He still chose to hurt me."
My mother nodded.
"I know."
"Then why should I trust him now?"
"You shouldn't."
She looked at me.
"But you should listen to him."
We found Julian at an abandoned office owned by the old Vance company.
Noah was there.
Alive.
He ran to me.
I dropped to my knees and held him.
"Mom."
"I thought I'd lost you."
"I'm okay."
I pulled him away and checked his face.
No injuries.
Nothing.
Then I looked at Julian.
He stood several feet away.
His wedding suit was still stained from the chaos of the reception.
His face looked exhausted.
"Why?"
He looked at me.
"Because Richard was coming for him."
"You could have told me."
"I tried."
"You lied."
"I know."
"You destroyed our family."
His eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
"You married Victoria."
"I know."
"You humiliated me."
"I know."
"You called me trash."
He lowered his head.
"I was trying to convince Richard that I hated you."
I stared at him.
"You could have protected me without destroying me."
"I was weak."
"Yes."
He accepted it.
No excuses.
That somehow made it hurt more.
Then Julian handed me a folder.
"Read this."
Inside were bank statements.
Transfers.
Emails.
And one document signed by Richard.
I recognized the date.
The day Julian filed for divorce.
Richard had transferred money into an account controlled by Victoria.
The amount:
$4,800,000.
I looked at Julian.
"Why?"
"Because that was the bait."
"What?"
"Richard wanted me to believe the trust was worth four-point-eight million."
"But it isn't."
"No."
"Then why?"
"Because I found the real trust."
I looked at him.
"Where?"
He pointed at Noah.
"Inside his birth records."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Julian shook his head.
"Your grandfather didn't leave Noah money."
"He left him ownership."
I remembered the documents.
The companies.
The inheritance.
Julian continued.
"Richard needed Noah alive until he turned eighteen."
"And then?"
"He could transfer control."
I felt cold.
"Unless Daniel was alive."
Julian nodded.
"Exactly."
I looked at my mother.
"Where is Daniel?"
She began crying.
"With Grant."
"Where?"
She whispered an address.
I recognized it immediately.
The old Hale estate.
The place Grant had supposedly sold after his death.
Julian looked at me.
"There's one more thing."
"What?"
"Richard isn't the real threat."
I frowned.
"Then who is?"
Julian looked toward the door.
"Your grandfather."
I froze.
"My father?"
"No."
He shook his head.
"Your grandfather's father."
I stared.
"He's dead."
Julian's expression was grim.
May you like
"That's what everyone thinks."
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