Chapter 10 - MY MOTHER’S MONEY
Mom came to my house alone.
I let her in.
Barely.
She held an envelope.
I hated envelopes now.
“Before you say anything—”
“No.”
She stopped.
“Sit.”
She sat.
I remained standing.
“Hawthorne Ridge.”
Her face collapsed.
“I can explain.”
“Of course.”
She had inherited three rental properties from Grandma.
Sold one.
Invested $2.4 million with Julian.
He told her Morgan Events needed emergency liquidity.
He promised fifteen percent return.
He said I was too proud to ask.
Mom believed him.
Because she wanted to.
Because Julian made her feel useful.
Then he told her Chloe would get an executive role after restructuring.
There it was.
Mom was buying Chloe a future.
With money aimed at weakening mine.
“I didn’t know about the fake vendors.”
“Did you know he planned to dilute me?”
“No.”
“Did you know he wanted Chloe in leadership?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask me?”
She cried.
“I thought you’d say no.”
I laughed.
“So you skipped me.”
“Claire.”
“I am so tired of my family deciding that my likely answer gives you permission to betray me.”
Mom covered her face.
I sat down finally.
Not beside her.
Across.
“How much did you send?”
“Two-point-four.”
“Where is it?”
She looked up.
“I don’t know.”
We traced it.
Hawthorne money entered a holding company.
Then moved to purchase a warehouse Morgan Events already leased.
Julian bought our own warehouse through a shell entity.
Then raised our rent.
Three times.
The company had paid $1.1 million in inflated rent.
To a building partly funded by my mother.
Mom looked sick.
“I didn’t know.”
I nodded.
“I believe you.”
That surprised her.
“Then—”
“I still don’t forgive you.”
Her face fell.
Both truths.
At noon, the board suspended Julian and Chloe.
By three, Julian filed for divorce.
By four, he requested a temporary restraining order preventing me from removing him as COO.
By five, an anonymous account leaked the garage video.
Not the affair.
Only my discovery.
Caption.
BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS STALKS HUSBAND AND SISTER.
The internet did what it does.
Then someone leaked my grandmother’s trust scandal.
May you like
Now I looked like the thief.
