Chapter 8 - KAREEN'S LAST CONFESSION
The flash drive contained everything.
Bank records.
Audio recordings.
Emails.
Photographs.
My father had spent years collecting evidence.
Kareen had secretly preserved it.
She hadn't been protecting Margaret.
She had been protecting me.
But that didn't excuse what she had done to Alora.
I told her that.
“You nearly killed my wife.”
Kareen lowered her head.
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because Margaret threatened you.”
“She threatened me?”
“She told me that if I didn't make Alora leave you, she would expose your identity and destroy you.”
“That makes no sense.”
Kareen looked at me.
“She said your inheritance was tied to your biological identity.”
I frowned.
“What inheritance?”
“The Caldwell Legacy Trust.”
I opened the documents.
The trust was worth far more than I had imagined.
$186 million.
But there was a condition.
The beneficiary had to prove that Thomas James Mercer was the biological son of Jonathan Caldwell.
Me.
And if I died before proving it, the money would pass to Margaret.
I finally understood.
This had never been about Alora stealing my money.
It had been about someone stealing it from me.
Kareen began crying.
“I thought if I frightened Alora enough, she'd leave.”
“You beat her.”
“I lost control.”
“You attacked a pregnant woman.”
“I know.”
“You could have killed my child.”
Kareen closed her eyes.
“I deserve whatever happens.”
I couldn't disagree.
Then Alora walked toward her.
Kareen looked up.
“I am sorry.”
Alora stared at her.
“You don't get to ask me for forgiveness.”
“I know.”
“You hurt my baby.”
“I know.”
“You hurt my husband.”
Kareen nodded.
“And you destroyed your own family.”
Kareen began sobbing.
“Yes.”
Alora turned away.
Then my phone rang.
The detective answered it.
His expression changed.
“Mr. Caldwell…”
“What?”
“Margaret Hale was arrested.”
I froze.
“How?”
“She surrendered.”
“Why?”
The detective looked at me.
“She claims she wants to confess.”
I felt no relief.
May you like
Only dread.
Because people like Margaret didn't surrender without a reason.
