Chapter 8 - THE FATHER WHO WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE HIS OWN SON“RICHARD HAS PREPARED A STATEMENT BLAMING VINCENT FOR THE FINANCIAL IRREGULARITIES. IF THE COMPANY COLLAPSES, HE INTENDS TO WALK AWAY WHILE HIS OWN SON FACES THE CONSEQUENCES.”
Sophia's words hung between us.
Outside the coffee shop, headlights moved through the wet Chicago streets.
I watched her carefully.
“You expect me to believe Richard would destroy his own son?”
Sophia looked down.
“He destroyed my father to protect himself. Why would Vincent be different?”
I didn't answer.
Part of me wanted to dismiss her explanation as another manipulation.
But Richard's reaction at the family estate had revealed genuine fear.
And the documents from my father's locker suggested that whatever he had concealed was much bigger than my marriage.
“Show me what you found,” I said.
Sophia opened a folder on her tablet.
The first document was a draft statement prepared for the Moretti Holdings board.
It described financial reporting irregularities allegedly approved by Vincent during his tenure as CEO.
The next document was an internal memorandum recommending an independent investigation.
At first glance, everything looked plausible.
Then I noticed a date.
One of the transactions Richard planned to blame on Vincent occurred before Vincent became CEO.
I pointed to it.
“That doesn't make sense.”
Sophia nodded.
“Exactly.”
“Who prepared this?”
“Richard's private legal and financial advisers. It hasn't been issued.”
I looked at her.
“How did you get access?”
She hesitated.
“Richard trusted me with his calendar, travel arrangements, and document routing whenever Vincent was unavailable.”
“Because you were Vincent's secretary?”
“Yes.”
“And because you were sleeping with his son?”
Sophia flinched.
I didn't apologize.
The truth didn't become less painful because she was also a victim of Richard's past.
She took a slow breath.
“I deserved that.”
I folded my arms.
“Then answer honestly. Did you begin the affair to get information?”
She looked at me for a long moment.
“No.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“I originally joined the company to investigate Richard. But Vincent was lonely and angry with his father. I convinced myself we understood each other.”
I felt a sharp ache in my chest.
“Vincent was lonely?”
Sophia lowered her eyes.
“I know how that sounds.”
“He had a wife waiting at home.”
“I know.”
“He could have talked to me.”
“I know.”
Her voice broke.
“I made excuses because the truth made me ashamed.”
For the first time, I saw something in Sophia I hadn't expected.
Not innocence.
Responsibility.
It didn't erase what she had done.
But it mattered that she wasn't trying to turn her choices into my fault.
I pushed the tablet back toward her.
“Does Vincent know about the statement?”
“No.”
“Does Richard know you've copied it?”
“I don't think so.”
“Then you may be in danger.”
Sophia gave a tired laugh.
“Claire, I've been in danger since the day I started working for him.”
I glanced toward the window.
Nathan's car was parked across the street.
I knew he would be watching.
I looked back at Sophia.
“I'm not your friend.”
“I understand.”
“And I don't trust you.”
“I understand that too.”
“But if your documents are genuine, this isn't only about us anymore.”
Sophia nodded.
“That's why I came.”
I told her to preserve the original files, avoid altering anything, and speak with an independent attorney.
She looked relieved.
Then she asked something that surprised me.
“Are you going to warn Vincent?”
I thought about my husband.
His lies.
His affair.
His fear of losing his company.
And the possibility that his own father was preparing to sacrifice him.
“Yes,” I said.
Sophia's face softened.
“Even after what he did?”
I stood.
“I'm divorcing him, Sophia. I'm not trying to destroy him.”
Outside, I joined Nathan.
He listened carefully as I described the meeting.
His expression grew increasingly serious.
“We need to verify those documents immediately,” he said.
“Can we stop Richard?”
“If there is a pending fraudulent transaction, we can seek appropriate legal relief. If there is evidence of financial misconduct, it needs to reach the proper investigators.”
I nodded.
“And Vincent?”
“He should retain separate counsel. His interests may conflict with Richard's.”
I looked down at my phone.
For the first time, I wasn't sure how to speak to my husband.
I didn't want to comfort him.
I didn't want to reconcile.
But I couldn't ignore what might be happening.
Finally, I called.
Vincent answered immediately.
“Claire?”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“My office.”
“Get out of the building.”
He sounded confused.
“What?”
“Vincent, listen carefully. Your father may be preparing to blame you for financial transactions that happened before you became CEO.”
Silence.
Then he gave a humorless laugh.
“Claire, that's impossible.”
“Is it?”
He didn't answer.
“Did your father ask you to sign anything unusual this week?”
I heard papers rustling.
“This morning, he sent me a statement to approve. He said it was a routine response to rumors about the company.”
My stomach dropped.
“Did you sign it?”
“No.”
“Good. Don't.”
Vincent's breathing became uneven.
“Claire, what is going on?”
“Your father may have concealed financial misconduct for years. And I think he's preparing to make you responsible for it.”
A long silence followed.
Then Vincent spoke.
“I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“I found an old board memorandum in the archives.”
I waited.
“It was written the year your father died.”
My throat tightened.
“What did it say?”
Vincent swallowed.
“It recommended terminating the development partnership and placing the Bennett property under temporary financial control.”
I gripped the phone.
“Why?”
“Because your father was preparing to report suspicious transactions.”
I closed my eyes.
“And Richard wanted to stop him.”
“Yes.”
My hand began trembling.
“Vincent, what happened after that?”
His voice grew quiet.
“There was an emergency board meeting. My father ordered the minutes sealed.”
“Can you access them?”
“I already did.”
I stood completely still.
“And?”
Vincent hesitated.
“Claire, the minutes include a statement made by your father.”
“What statement?”
“He accused Richard of misusing employee funds.”
I waited.
Vincent took another breath.
“And then he said something that doesn't make sense.”
My pulse quickened.
“What?”
“He said Richard was protecting the real person who controlled Northbridge Capital.”
I looked at the traffic moving beyond Nathan's windshield.
“Who was it?”
May you like
Vincent's answer was barely audible.
“My mother.”
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