Chapter 13 - What Charles Had Been Hiding
That night, Alexander finally told me everything.
His father hadn't died naturally.
Not exactly.
He had suffered a nervous breakdown after discovering Philippa's financial schemes.
Charles had tried to separate from her.
Philippa threatened to destroy him socially and financially.
Alexander had been sixteen.
He remembered hearing his parents arguing.
He remembered his father saying:
“I'm taking the children and leaving.”
The next morning, his father disappeared for three days.
When he returned, he signed papers transferring control of several family assets to Philippa.
Alexander had always assumed it was his father's decision.
It wasn't.
There had been coercion.
Charles knew.
That's why he built the trust.
That's why he protected Isla.
That's why he left warnings.
Alexander cried as he told me.
“I spent my whole life thinking my father abandoned us.”
“He didn't.”
“No.”
I touched his hand.
“He was trapped.”
Alexander looked at me.
“I became him.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“I let Mom control my life.”
“Yes.”
“But you can change that.”
He nodded.
The next morning, Evelyn called.
“Philippa wants a settlement.”
“What kind?”
“She'll return the money.”
“All of it?”
“Most.”
“And?”
“She wants you to drop the criminal complaint.”
I laughed.
“She thinks this is a negotiation.”
“Apparently.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That my client is not interested.”
I smiled.
For the first time, I felt something unfamiliar.
Peace.
Then Evelyn said:
“There is one condition she added.”
“What?”
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“She wants to speak to Isla.”
I immediately said no.
