Chapter 7 - The Father Who Left a Debt BehindPreston followed Vivienne to Greenwich.
Neither spoke during the drive.
When they entered the house, Eleanor was waiting in the study.
A stack of documents covered the desk.
Preston recognized his father's handwriting.
His stomach tightened.
"No."
Vivienne looked at him.
"Do you recognize it?"
"Yes."
Eleanor opened a folder.
"Your father worked with my husband."
Preston stared.
"Doing what?"
"Private acquisitions."
"What kind?"
Eleanor looked at Vivienne.
"Hostile ones."
Preston stepped back.
"My father wasn't a criminal."
"No," Eleanor said. "He was worse."
Preston's face tightened.
"Don't talk about him like that."
Vivienne interrupted.
"Read this."
She handed him a letter.
He unfolded it.
The letter was dated eighteen years earlier.
His father's signature appeared at the bottom.
The message was simple.
THE GIRL MUST NEVER KNOW THE TRUE VALUE OF HER INHERITANCE.
Preston looked up.
"Vivienne."
She nodded.
"Me."
He kept reading.
Another line caught his attention.
IF HER HUSBAND CAN BE SELECTED, HE CAN BE CONTROLLED.
Preston stopped breathing.
His hands trembled.
"Selected?"
Eleanor nodded.
"Your father believed he could arrange Vivienne's future marriage."
"But we met naturally."
Vivienne's expression was bitter.
"Apparently not."
Preston looked at her.
"I loved you."
"I know."
"No. You don't."
He stepped closer.
"I really did."
Vivienne's eyes filled.
"Then why did you betray me?"
He had no answer.
Because there was no excuse.
Eleanor opened another folder.
"There's more."
Inside was a bank transfer.
Preston's father had received money from Marcus Vale.
For arranging an introduction.
Preston looked sick.
"How long?"
"Years," Eleanor said.
"Did my father know about Tiffany?"
"Not possible."
"He died before she appeared."
Vivienne shook her head.
"Marcus didn't need your father anymore."
Preston looked at her.
"He used me."
"Yes."
"But why?"
Vivienne stared at the documents.
"Because you were the perfect person."
"Why?"
"You wanted wealth."
He flinched.
"You wanted status."
He looked away.
"You wanted people to believe you belonged among powerful people."
She paused.
"Marcus knew you'd be easy to control."
Preston whispered,
"And he was right."
"No."
Vivienne stepped closer.
"You were weak."
He looked at her.
"But you're not powerless."
She handed him another document.
"What is this?"
"Your father's final account."
Preston read it.
Then his face changed.
"There's a transfer."
"Yes."
"To Marcus."
"Yes."
"After my father died."
Silence.
Preston looked up.
"My father didn't make this."
Vivienne nodded.
"Which means someone used his identity."
"Who?"
Eleanor answered.
"Someone inside your company."
Suddenly every light in the house went out.
A loud crash came from downstairs.
Preston grabbed Vivienne.
"Stay here."
She shook her head.
"No."
"What?"
"You're not protecting me tonight."
May you like
She opened the drawer and pulled out a phone.
"I'm finding out who came into my house."
