Chapter 8 - THE OTHER FAMILY
Peter Vance had died three years earlier.
Heart attack.
Quiet funeral.
Julian barely cried.
I thought grief looked different on everyone.
Now I wondered if fear did too.
Peter had been a CPA.
He helped Dad move Grandma’s money.
Then years later, his firm created North Harbor.
The scheme had roots.
Family roots.
We pulled archived emails.
Peter to Dad.
RUTH’S RESTRICTIONS ARE A PROBLEM.
Dad replied.
WE HANDLE IT BEFORE CLAIRE KNOWS.
Another.
JULIAN CAN SIGN AS WITNESS.
Another.
KEEP CHLOE OUT OF IT.
That last one hurt differently.
Chloe had been protected then.
Later, she learned.
And used it.
Julian’s first business failed.
The reserve trust money disappeared with it.
My parents never told me because they were ashamed.
Then Julian married into the company.
Rose through operations.
Waited.
He learned everyone’s secrets.
Mine.
Dad’s.
Mom’s.
Chloe’s.
Then he built leverage.
I went home that night.
Our house felt fake.
The couch.
Wedding photographs.
His shoes by the door.
I packed nothing.
I sat on the kitchen floor.
At 1:00 a.m., Julian came in.
He stopped.
“You’re here.”
“Unfortunately.”
He removed his coat.
“Can we talk?”
“Sure.”
He sat across from me on the floor.
That almost made me angry enough to laugh.
He said.
“I didn’t plan Chloe.”
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
“She happened.”
“People don’t happen inside parking garages.”
He closed his eyes.
“I was lonely.”
“So was I.”
“You were always working.”
“For our company.”
“Your company.”
There.
“Your money.”
“Your trust.”
“Your name.”
I looked at him.
“You resented me.”
“Yes.”
At least.
Truth.
Then.
“I wanted something that was mine.”
“So you stole it.”
“I built this company too.”
“No.”
“You worked here.”
His face hardened.
“I made Morgan Events what it is.”
“Then why did you need fake vendors?”
He stood.
“You think fifty-two percent makes you better than me.”
“No.”
I looked up.
“I think stealing makes you worse.”
He stared.
Then said.
“You don’t know the worst thing yet.”
I almost smiled.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Julian’s voice dropped.
May you like
“Chloe isn’t the only one carrying my child.”
