Chapter 12 - THE SINS OF THE FATHERS
Arthur didn't deny it.
That hurt Nora more than she expected.
Richard Bennett had initially helped Robert Hale create the foreign accounts.
Not because he intended to steal.
Because the accounts were originally legal tax structures.
Then Robert began using them to hide illegal transactions.
Richard discovered it.
He tried to shut everything down.
Robert threatened him.
Richard gathered evidence.
Then he died.
"So my father wasn't perfect."
Nora said quietly.
Arthur shook his head.
"No."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was ashamed."
"Of him?"
"Of myself."
Arthur looked toward the floor.
"I approved the original structure."
Nora stared at him.
"I trusted Robert."
He continued.
"Your father warned me."
"I didn't listen soon enough."
Nora understood something.
Arthur wasn't a savior.
He was a man carrying old guilt.
That somehow made his help feel more real.
"Did you kill my father?"
Arthur looked directly at her.
"No."
"Did you know Robert would?"
"No."
"Would you tell me if you had?"
Arthur didn't look away.
"Yes."
Nora believed him.
Not because he was powerful.
Because he was willing to look ashamed.
Daniel never was.
Rebecca entered carrying documents.
"The divorce petition is ready."
Nora looked at it.
She had imagined this moment before.
During lonely nights.
After Daniel's cruel comments.
After finding unfamiliar perfume on his shirt.
But she had always imagined feeling devastated.
Instead, she felt light.
"Where do I sign?"
Rebecca smiled.
Nora signed.
Daniel was served in jail.
According to his attorney, he laughed when he received the papers.
Then he demanded custody of Lucy.
Nora wasn't surprised.
He didn't want Lucy.
He wanted leverage.
The custody hearing happened three weeks later.
Daniel appeared in court wearing a dark suit.
No handcuffs in front of the judge.
He looked almost like the man Nora had married.
Almost.
His attorney argued that Nora was alienating Lucy.
Then Rebecca played the ballroom footage.
The judge watched Celeste slap Lucy.
Watched Daniel stop Nora from reaching her.
Watched Daniel defend Celeste.
Then the audio from the mansion played.
"One stupid tooth and now investigators are crawling through my company."
Daniel stared at the table.
Then came the sentence that destroyed his custody argument.
"I wish she'd never been there."
The judge removed her glasses.
She looked at Daniel.
"Mr. Hale, do you understand that the child you are discussing is your daughter?"
Daniel's attorney stood.
"Your Honor—"
"I asked Mr. Hale."
Daniel swallowed.
"Yes."
The judge's expression was cold.
"Then perhaps you should have remembered that before treating her injury as an inconvenience."
Temporary sole custody went to Nora.
Daniel received no direct contact pending psychological evaluation and the criminal proceedings.
Nora thought she would celebrate.
She didn't.
She walked outside and cried.
Not for Daniel.
For Lucy.
For the father her daughter deserved and never had.
Arthur found Nora on the courthouse steps.
"You okay?"
"No."
He sat beside her.
They stayed there quietly.
Then Nora's phone rang.
Rebecca.
Her voice sounded urgent.
"Nora, where are you?"
"Outside."
"Don't leave."
Nora sat straighter.
"Why?"
"Daniel made a call from jail last night."
"To whom?"
"His mother."
Nora looked toward Arthur.
"What did he say?"
Rebecca paused.
"He told Evelyn to retrieve something from your old mansion."
Nora felt cold.
"What?"
"We don't know."
"But police intercepted the call."
Nora stood.
"They're searching the house?"
"Right now."
Nora's heart started pounding.
Then Rebecca said:
"They found a hidden room behind Daniel's study."
Nora stopped breathing.
"What room?"
Rebecca's voice dropped.
May you like
"Nora..."
"You need to see what was inside."
