Chapter 7 - THE BROTHER BEHIND THE EMPIRE
For thirty years, Armand Veller had trusted his younger brother with everything.
His money.
His company.
His reputation.
And, most importantly, his family.
Richard Veller had stood beside him when Catherine died.
He had organized search teams when Isabelle vanished.
He had managed the Veller Group during the months when Armand could barely leave his bedroom.
And he had personally approved millions of dollars in payments to private investigators searching for Isabelle.
Now Margaret was telling Armand that Richard had helped the man responsible for destroying their lives.
Armand refused to believe it.
“Richard would never hurt Isabelle.”
Margaret looked at him sadly.
“That's what I thought.”
“Where's your proof?”
She hesitated.
“I have records.”
“Show me.”
“Not here.”
Armand's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because Richard controls the security system.”
The words struck him harder than he expected.
For years, Richard had overseen the estate's security arrangements.
He had installed new cameras.
Changed alarm codes.
Selected guards.
And recommended Victor Hale for the original position as head of security.
Armand suddenly remembered something.
The night Isabelle disappeared, Richard had been the first person to arrive after the police.
He had seemed devastated.
He had embraced Armand and promised they would find her.
But he had also insisted that the kidnapping was probably the work of outsiders.
Armand had never questioned him.
Not once.
At the police station, Rebecca Shaw recovered another portion of Catherine's damaged video.
Mercer gathered Lina and Evelyn around the monitor.
Catherine appeared again.
This time, her expression was more desperate.
“I made copies of the financial records,” she said. “But Victor isn't the one giving orders.”
Evelyn leaned forward.
Catherine looked directly into the camera.
“Richard knows everything.”
Lina gasped.
Mercer remained silent.
Catherine continued.
“He's been using the foundation to move money into private accounts. Victor handles the transfers, but Richard controls the operation.”
The recording crackled.
“Armand, your brother has been lying to you for years.”
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Catherine's eyes filled with tears.
“And I believe he arranged the accident that was supposed to kill me.”
The video ended.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Evelyn whispered:
“My mother knew.”
Mercer nodded.
“She knew enough to be dangerous.”
Lina looked at him.
“Does that mean Catherine survived the accident?”
“Possibly.”
Evelyn stared at the frozen image.
“If she survived, where did she go?”
Mercer glanced toward the photograph Victor had given her.
“That's what we need to find out.”
Richard Veller arrived at the mansion shortly before midnight.
He was sixty-two, tall and distinguished, with silver hair and a carefully maintained public image.
To the business world, he was the disciplined executive who had helped build the Veller Group into an international empire.
To Armand, he was the younger brother who had always been there.
Richard entered the study carrying a leather briefcase.
“Armand, I got your message. What's going on?”
Armand stood beside the fireplace.
“Sit down.”
Richard frowned.
“Is something wrong?”
“Isabelle is alive.”
Richard stopped.
For a moment, his expression was unreadable.
Then he stepped forward.
“What?”
“She's alive.”
Richard stared at him.
“My God.”
He placed the briefcase on a chair.
“Where is she?”
Armand watched him.
“Why do you ask?”
Richard looked confused.
“Because she's my niece.”
Armand nodded slowly.
“Of course.”
Richard approached.
“Have you seen her?”
“Not yet.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Someone recognized her.”
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Armand did not answer.
Instead, he reached for a photograph on the desk.
It showed Catherine standing beside Richard at a charity event.
“Do you remember this night?”
Richard glanced at it.
“Of course. The foundation gala.”
“Catherine confronted you afterward.”
Richard stiffened.
“What are you talking about?”
“She discovered the missing money.”
A silence followed.
Then Richard laughed.
“Armand, if this is about those old allegations—”
“She recorded a video.”
Richard's smile vanished.
Armand stepped closer.
“She named you.”
Richard stared.
For the first time, the confident businessman seemed uncertain.
Then he sighed.
“Catherine misunderstood what she found.”
“Explain it.”
“Those transfers were part of a confidential restructuring.”
“Through shell companies?”
“Standard business practice.”
“Into accounts controlled by Victor Hale?”
Richard said nothing.
Armand's voice hardened.
“Did you kill my wife?”
Richard looked genuinely shocked.
“Of course not!”
“Did you arrange Isabelle's disappearance?”
“No!”
“Then why did Catherine say you were responsible?”
Richard's face reddened.
“Because Catherine was paranoid!”
Armand recoiled.
Richard immediately softened his tone.
“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.”
But Armand had heard enough.
He looked at his brother with new eyes.
“You always said Catherine was imagining things.”
Richard swallowed.
“She was under stress.”
“And you told me not to investigate the accident.”
“Because you were grieving.”
“You told me Isabelle had probably been taken by strangers.”
“That's what the evidence suggested.”
Armand stepped closer.
“Did you know she was alive?”
Richard stared.
Then slowly smiled.
It was not a warm smile.
It was tired.
Almost disappointed.
“Armand,” he said quietly, “you've always been too trusting.”
Armand felt the blood drain from his face.
Richard opened his briefcase.
Inside lay a folder.
He placed it on the desk.
“Before you decide I'm the villain, you should read this.”
Armand looked down.
The folder contained a birth certificate.
Isabelle Veller.
But the father's name was not Armand.
It was Richard.
Armand stared at the document.
His hands began to tremble.
“What is this?”
Richard watched him.
Then whispered:
May you like
“THE GIRL YOU'VE SPENT FIFTEEN YEARS SEARCHING FOR WAS NEVER YOUR BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER.”
END OF CHAPTER 7
