Chapter 13 - THE CONFESSION THAT WAS NEVER REAL
Victor Lemaire stared at his computer screen.
The recording had been replaced.
Someone had accessed the distribution package before it reached the hospital network.
Someone had substituted Madeleine's warning.
For the first time in years, Victor felt genuine fear.
He picked up his phone.
“Find out who did this.”
His assistant hesitated.
“Mr. Lemaire, the authorities have contacted our office.”
Victor froze.
“What authorities?”
“Financial investigators.”
He slowly lowered the phone.
The walls were closing in.
Across Paris, Camille watched Sofia speak with investigators.
The original documents from Madeleine's storage unit had been transferred into official custody.
Antoine Girard had provided his records.
Julien had submitted Victor's communications.
Diane had finally agreed to cooperate through her attorney.
And Philippe Dumas had been questioned about his undisclosed financial relationships.
The evidence was no longer a collection of suspicious fragments.
It was becoming a coherent picture.
Victor had allegedly orchestrated the Mercier fraud.
He had used shell companies to move money.
He had manipulated the investigation.
He had encouraged Julien to seek revenge against Armand.
And he had attempted to use Camille's engagement to gain influence over Asterion.
But one question remained.
What had happened to Madeleine?
Camille sat across from a senior investigator named Claire Morel.
Morel was calm, precise, and careful with her words.
“We've reviewed your mother's medical records,” she said.
Camille gripped her hands.
“And?”
“The available records indicate that she suffered a severe infection complicated by an underlying medical condition.”
Camille felt tears rise.
“So Victor didn't cause her death?”
Morel paused.
“We have not found evidence that he caused her illness.”
Camille closed her eyes.
Part of her felt relieved.
Another part felt strangely disappointed.
She had wanted a clear answer.
A villain responsible for everything.
But life rarely offered such simplicity.
Morel continued.
“However, we have evidence that Victor threatened your mother shortly before her hospitalization.”
Camille nodded.
“And he visited her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We're still investigating.”
Camille looked down.
“Did he pressure her?”
“We believe he attempted to persuade her not to disclose the financial evidence.”
“Did she agree?”
“No.”
Camille felt a surge of pride.
Her mother had been frightened.
Ill.
Under pressure.
But she had refused to surrender the truth.
Morel continued.
“We also recovered correspondence showing that Madeleine arranged for the original Mercier records to be preserved outside Victor's control.”
Camille looked up.
“Where?”
“With an independent attorney who retired several years ago.”
“Can we obtain them?”
“We have.”
Morel opened a folder.
Inside was Étienne Mercier's original statement.
Camille read it carefully.
Étienne had admitted certain accounting errors.
But he had not confessed to stealing twenty million euros.
The confession used during the prosecution had been materially altered.
Signatures had been copied.
Pages had been replaced.
And the final version had included admissions Étienne never made.
Camille felt sick.
An innocent man had lost his reputation.
His career.
His freedom.
And eventually, his health.
Julien had grown up believing Armand was responsible.
All because Victor needed someone else to take the blame.
Camille looked toward Morel.
“Will Julien's father be cleared?”
“The authorities are reviewing the conviction. I can't promise an outcome.”
Camille nodded.
She understood.
Justice required more than outrage.
It required evidence.
Procedure.
Patience.
But for the first time, Étienne's name had a real chance of being restored.
That evening, Camille met Julien in a conference room at Sofia's law firm.
It was their first face-to-face meeting since the notary's office.
Julien looked exhausted.
His hair was uncombed.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes.
He wore a simple blue shirt instead of his usual tailored suit.
Camille sat opposite him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Julien said:
“You look well.”
Camille almost smiled.
“I haven't slept in days.”
He lowered his eyes.
“Neither have I.”
Silence.
Then Camille asked:
“Why did you really approach me?”
Julien closed his eyes.
“Victor told me your father had destroyed Étienne.”
“And you believed him.”
“Yes.”
“So you decided to hurt me.”
Julien nodded.
“At first.”
Camille felt her throat tighten.
“At first?”
He looked at her.
“I met you at the charity auction because Victor arranged it.”
She closed her eyes.
The memory hurt.
“But I didn't expect you to be who you were.”
Camille remained silent.
“You were kind,” Julien continued. “You treated people with respect. You cared about your employees. You listened when I talked about my father.”
His voice broke.
“And I fell in love with you.”
Camille looked away.
“Then why continue?”
Julien's eyes filled with tears.
“Because I was a coward.”
She turned back toward him.
He continued.
“I kept telling myself I could separate the plan from our relationship.”
Camille shook her head.
“You can't build love on a lie.”
“I know.”
“You could have told me.”
“I was afraid you'd leave.”
“So you tried to take my company instead?”
Julien lowered his head.
“Yes.”
The admission was devastating.
But it was also the first completely honest answer Camille had received from him.
She took a breath.
“I believe you loved me.”
Julien looked up.
Hope flashed across his face.
Camille continued.
“But love doesn't erase betrayal.”
His expression collapsed.
“I know.”
“I can't marry you.”
He nodded.
“I understand.”
“And I can't promise I'll ever forgive you.”
Julien wiped his eyes.
“You don't owe me forgiveness.”
For several seconds, they sat in silence.
Then Camille reached into her bag.
She removed the sealed envelope Madeleine had addressed to Julien.
He stared at it.
“What is that?”
“A letter from my mother.”
Julien's hands trembled.
“She wrote to me?”
“Yes.”
Camille placed it on the table.
“She wanted you to know the truth.”
Julien slowly picked it up.
He broke the seal.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
He began reading.
After a few lines, tears streamed down his face.
Camille looked away.
She knew what the letter said.
Madeleine had written that Étienne was a good man.
That Julien deserved to know who had betrayed his family.
That revenge would not restore what he had lost.
And that he should never allow someone else's cruelty to determine the kind of man he became.
Julien covered his mouth.
For the first time since Camille had known him, he cried without trying to hide it.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
He looked down.
His face changed.
Camille noticed.
“What is it?”
Julien stared at the screen.
The message came from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph.
Victor Lemaire standing outside Isabelle Mercier's house.
May you like
Beneath it were six words.
“Your mother is next. Come alone.”
