Chapter 8 - THE OLD FAMILY SECRET
Richard told me everything.
Years ago, my father discovered Betsy was stealing from one of his companies.
He confronted her.
She threatened him.
When that didn't work, she recruited Richard.
But Richard refused.
Then Betsy threatened his family.
He helped her move money.
My father discovered the theft.
Before he could expose her, he died.
The official report called it a medical emergency.
Richard handed me another document.
"It wasn't."
My heart broke.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was afraid."
"Of Betsy?"
"Of what she would do to you."
I stared at the document.
Then I remembered something.
My father had once told me:
Never confuse silence with safety.
I had spent years believing he meant business.
Now I understood.
He meant family.
Richard continued.
"Betsy didn't just want money."
"What did she want?"
"Control."
"Over what?"
"Your inheritance."
I looked at him.
"My inheritance?"
He nodded.
"Your father established a trust for you. Connor's company was only one piece of it."
Parker had been right.
I hadn't been protecting myself from Connor.
I had been standing on top of a financial empire I never knew existed.
Richard leaned closer.
"Your father expected Betsy to come after you."
"Why?"
"Because she couldn't access the trust directly."
I understood.
She needed me married.
She needed Connor loyal.
And she needed me divorced under terms that surrendered control.
The hospital papers suddenly made sense.
Connor hadn't been divorcing me because he wanted Alyssa.
He was trying to remove me from the trust.
The mistress.
The pregnancy.
The grandson.
It had all been designed to make me feel worthless.
To make me sign away everything.
I closed the folder.
"Thank you."
Richard shook his head.
"Don't thank me."
"Why?"
"Because Betsy knows you're here."
My phone rang.
It was Parker.
"Where are you?"
"Chicago."
"Get back immediately."
"What happened?"
"The house was broken into."
My heart stopped.
"Brinley?"
"She's safe."
I exhaled.
"But they weren't looking for you."
"What were they looking for?"
May you like
Parker paused.
"The documents."
