Chapter 12 - THE QUEEN WITHOUT A CROWN
“VALÉRIE DIDN'T JUST STEAL OUR FORTUNE. SHE ORDERED THE DEATH OF THE MAN WHO GAVE HER EVERYTHING!”
Alexandre stood outside the police station, staring at the city skyline.
For most of his life, Valérie Montfort had been a second mother.
She had attended his school performances.
Comforted him after his parents died.
Advised him when he entered the family business.
She had taught him how to negotiate, how to speak to investors, and how to recognize weakness in competitors.
But she had never taught him how to recognize evil in someone he loved.
Inside the station, Valérie sat across from Detective Carter.
Her red evening gown was gone.
She wore a simple gray suit.
Without her diamonds and elaborate makeup, she looked smaller.
Older.
Almost ordinary.
Carter placed Étienne's statement on the table.
Valérie glanced at it.
Then looked away.
“Where did you get that?”
“From a sealed evidence archive.”
Valérie's lips tightened.
“It's a fabrication.”
Carter opened another file.
“Then perhaps you can explain these payments.”
Bank transfers appeared on the screen.
Payments to medical administrators.
Transfers to Blue Harbor Holdings.
Funds routed through companies controlled by Valérie.
She remained silent.
Carter continued.
“We also recovered recordings from the Vasseur estate.”
Valérie looked up sharply.
“What recordings?”
Carter pressed play.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Valérie's voice.
“He cannot wake up. If Étienne talks, everything collapses.”
A man's voice responded.
“The doctors say he may recover.”
Valérie replied:
“Then make sure the final report says otherwise.”
Carter stopped the recording.
Valérie's face had turned pale.
“That's not what you think.”
“Then tell me what it means.”
Valérie stared at the table.
For several minutes, she said nothing.
Finally, she whispered:
“I didn't start this.”
Carter remained still.
“Who did?”
“Henri.”
“And you helped him?”
Valérie closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Valérie laughed bitterly.
“Because I was poor.”
Carter didn't respond.
Valérie continued.
“I grew up in a house where the electricity was shut off every winter. My father drank. My mother cleaned offices at night. I promised myself I'd never be powerless again.”
She looked toward the window.
“When Henri offered me a position at the Vasseur Group, I thought I'd finally escaped.”
“And then?”
“He showed me what money could do.”
Her voice hardened.
“People listened. Doors opened. Problems disappeared.”
Carter leaned forward.
“And you decided that justified stealing from others?”
Valérie looked down.
“No.”
For the first time, she sounded genuinely ashamed.
“I decided I didn't care.”
Carter allowed the silence to settle.
Valérie continued.
“Henri wanted Étienne's shares. I helped arrange the forged transfers. Gabriel handled Mercer. Everything was supposed to end with Étienne surrendering control.”
“But Étienne refused.”
“Yes.”
“And you ordered his death.”
Valérie began crying.
“I told the medical administrator that Étienne couldn't be allowed to recover.”
Carter's expression remained steady.
“Did you know that could result in his death?”
Valérie nodded.
“Yes.”
The admission seemed to drain the strength from her body.
For thirty years, she had built a fortune on lies.
Now the truth sat between her and a detective who had no interest in being impressed by her wealth.
“Why did you slap Isabelle?” Carter asked.
Valérie looked confused.
“What?”
“At the gala. Why did you attack her?”
Valérie stared at her hands.
“Because she reminded me of him.”
“Étienne?”
“Yes.”
Her voice cracked.
“He had this way of looking at me. Like he could see exactly what I'd become.”
Carter closed the file.
“Your childhood explains your fear of poverty, Mrs. Montfort. It doesn't excuse what you did to other people.”
Valérie lowered her head.
“I know.”
That evening, Alexandre visited her.
Carter had arranged the meeting under controlled conditions.
Valérie looked up when he entered.
“Alexandre.”
He remained standing.
“Did you love me?”
The question seemed to surprise her.
“Of course.”
“Then why did you lie to me?”
Valérie began crying.
“Because I thought if you knew the truth, you'd hate me.”
Alexandre's voice trembled.
“You let me spend my life honoring a man who stole from another family.”
“I know.”
“You taught me to distrust Isabelle.”
“Yes.”
“You tried to keep me from learning who my parents really were.”
Valérie lowered her head.
“Yes.”
Alexandre sat opposite her.
“I loved you like family.”
She covered her face.
“I know.”
“And that's why this hurts.”
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Valérie looked up.
“Alexandre, there's something you need to understand.”
He waited.
“Henri wasn't the person controlling the network during its final years.”
Alexandre frowned.
“What?”
“He became ill. Paranoid. Unstable. Someone else began making decisions.”
“Who?”
Valérie hesitated.
“Someone who understood the system better than any of us.”
Alexandre leaned forward.
“Tell me.”
Valérie looked toward the door.
“Richard Beaumont.”
Alexandre stared at her.
“The attorney?”
She nodded.
“He didn't just protect Étienne's documents.”
Her voice dropped.
“He controlled the legal structures that kept the entire network alive.”
Alexandre stood.
“Are you telling me Richard was involved?”
Valérie's eyes filled with terror.
“He was the one person Henri feared.”
Alexandre stepped toward the door.
“Why didn't you tell the police?”
Valérie began shaking.
“Because he knows everything about everyone.”
Alexandre stopped.
She looked directly at him.
“And because the black file Isabelle brought to the gala wasn't the original.”
He turned slowly.
“What?”
Valérie swallowed.
May you like
“RICHARD SWITCHED IT BEFORE SHE ENTERED THE BALLROOM.”
End of Chapter 12.
