Chapter 5 - THE FILE THAT COULD END A DYNASTY

The investigation lasted three days.

Three days without sleep.

Three days of financial records, medical documents, phone logs, emails, and archived security footage.

Then we found the missing piece.

A recording.

The hospital administrator had kept a private backup of a phone call.

We listened to it in Raymond's office.

Brendan's voice filled the room.

“Don't approve anything else.”

The administrator sounded nervous.

“Mr. Fairchild, the child needs the medication.”

“I said don't approve it.”

“She could deteriorate.”

“That is the family's decision.”

There was a pause.

Then Brendan said something that made my blood freeze.

“If Nora wants to keep spending, she can find another way.”

The recording ended.

I sat completely still.

Raymond looked at me.

“Nora.”

I couldn't speak.

My daughter had been fighting for breath.

And her father had been arguing over money.

I finally whispered,

“Make a copy.”

“Already done.”

“Make ten.”

He nodded.

Then I asked,

“Where is Brendan now?”

“At the Fairchild headquarters.”

“Take me there.”

Raymond frowned.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

I walked into Fairchild headquarters at noon.

The receptionist looked shocked.

“Mrs. Fairchild?”

I nodded.

“I need to see Brendan.”

“He's in a board meeting.”

“Then interrupt it.”

She hesitated.

I smiled.

“Tell him his wife is here.”

Minutes later, the boardroom doors opened.

Brendan stood inside.

Victor was beside him.

Several executives turned toward me.

I walked in.

Brendan's expression darkened.

“What are you doing?”

I placed a folder on the table.

“Ending the conversation.”

Victor picked it up.

His eyes moved across the first page.

Then his face changed.

Brendan noticed.

“What is it?”

Victor didn't answer.

I looked at him.

“Tell him.”

He slowly closed the folder.

“Where did you get this?”

“Does it matter?”

His jaw tightened.

I turned to Brendan.

“Did you tell the hospital not to approve Chloe's medication?”

“No.”

I pressed play.

His own voice filled the room.

Nobody moved.

When the recording ended, silence followed.

One director stood.

“Is that you?”

Brendan looked at me.

“You recorded me?”

“No.”

“Then who?”

“The truth.”

Victor suddenly said,

“We need to speak privately.”

I laughed.

“No.”

I looked around the table.

“Everyone should hear this.”

Then I placed another document down.

“Your company has been diverting funds through Hayes Strategic Holdings.”

Several directors looked at Samantha's name.

Then I placed another document.

“$12.4 million to Crown Meridian Foundation.”

Another.

“$18 million in undisclosed liabilities.”

Another.

“Seven shell entities.”

Another.

“Unauthorized transfers.”

Brendan's face had gone pale.

Victor finally spoke.

“You don't understand corporate governance.”

I looked at him.

“I have a master's degree in actuarial science.”

Nobody spoke.

“I spent six years modeling financial risk before I married your nephew.”

I turned toward Brendan.

“You told me I was too emotional to work.”

He stared at me.

“You told me I didn't need my career.”

I placed my wedding ring on the table.

“You told me to trust you.”

Then I looked at the board.

“I did.”

I paused.

“That's what makes this my fault.”

Brendan whispered,

“Nora.”

I ignored him.

“I trusted the wrong man.”

Victor stood.

“This meeting is over.”

“No.”

I looked at him.

“It isn't.”

I slid a final document across the table.

It was an ownership statement.

The room went silent.

One director picked it up.

His face drained of color.

“What is this?”

I answered.

“Eighteen-point-seven percent.”

Brendan stared.

“Of what?”

“The Fairchild Group.”

Victor looked at me.

“You don't own that.”

“I do.”

“How?”

“My father.”

Victor's expression became almost frightened.

I stood.

“And I'm exercising my shareholder rights.”

One executive whispered,

“This could trigger a board review.”

“Yes.”

Another said,

“Possibly a forensic audit.”

“Yes.”

Victor looked at Brendan.

“Do something.”

Brendan stared at me.

For the first time, he looked powerless.

Then my phone vibrated.

A message from Raymond.

We found the person who altered Chloe's records.

I opened it.

One name.

Ximena Alvarez.

Then another message appeared.

She wants immunity.

I looked at Brendan.

He was still staring at me.

I said quietly,

“Your assistant wants to talk.”

His face went white.

“What did you do?”

I picked up my ring.

“Nothing.”

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I smiled.

“Yet.”