Chapter 9 - EDWARD VANCE'S LAST SECRET
The flash drive contained forty-three files.
Clara opened the first.
Her father appeared on-screen.
The recording was dated two weeks before his death.
Edward Vance looked exhausted.
“If anything happens to me, Clara needs to know everything.”
Clara’s chest tightened.
Daniel sat beside her.
The video continued.
Edward described Evelyn’s theft.
Then he revealed why he had not immediately reported her.
Twenty-seven years earlier, their grandfather had committed financial fraud to save Vance Holdings from bankruptcy.
Edward discovered it after inheriting the company.
He covered it up.
Evelyn later found the evidence.
She had spent years blackmailing him.
Daniel whispered.
“My God.”
Edward continued.
“I protected the family name.”
“And by doing so, I gave Evelyn the weapon she needed.”
“I was wrong.”
Clara watched her father admit everything.
The company’s reputation could be devastated.
Evelyn knew it.
That was her final weapon.
At the board meeting, she smiled.
“Remove Clara and install me as trustee.”
“Or the world sees those files.”
Daniel stood.
“You’re blackmailing your own family.”
“I’m negotiating.”
Clara stared at the woman.
For years, she had feared scandals.
She had protected the company.
Protected employees.
Protected the family name.
Evelyn expected that fear to control her.
Clara stood.
“Release it.”
Evelyn blinked.
“What?”
“Release everything.”
Daniel looked at his sister.
Clara continued.
“My grandfather committed fraud.”
“My father covered it up.”
“If crimes were committed, they should be investigated.”
“You would destroy this company.”
“No.”
Clara looked around the room.
“I would stop destroying people to protect it.”
Evelyn’s expression twisted.
“You self-righteous little—”
Clara interrupted.
“You spent your entire life assuming everyone was as afraid of the truth as you are.”
She pushed the flash drive back.
“I’m not.”
The boardroom doors opened again.
Samuel Reed entered.
Evelyn’s face drained of color.
Behind him were two investigators.
Samuel placed a sealed evidence box on the table.
“This contains the original trust amendment.”
Evelyn stared at him.
Samuel continued.
“And financial records proving Evelyn Vance Mercer transferred more than sixty million dollars through fraudulent entities.”
Victoria began crying.
Evelyn turned toward her.
“This is your fault.”
Victoria stared back.
“My fault?”
“You couldn’t handle one simple woman in a housekeeping uniform.”
Something changed inside Victoria.
For the first time, she understood.
Evelyn had never respected her.
She had only used her.
Victoria looked toward the investigators.
“I want a deal.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You have nothing.”
Victoria wiped her tears.
“Yes.”
“I do.”
She opened her phone.
May you like
“I recorded every conversation we ever had.”
And suddenly, Evelyn stopped smiling.
