Chapter 8 - The Account Under Claire’s Name
Dominic called Lauren.
She didn't answer.
The live feed disappeared.
Claire turned to him.
“We have to go.”
“Yes.”
They returned to the mansion.
Security guards were unconscious in the hallway.
Claire's heart raced.
They found Charles tied to a chair.
Lauren stood behind him.
She dropped the gun.
“Claire.”
Claire stared.
“What did you do?”
Lauren's eyes filled with tears.
“Nothing.”
Charles laughed bitterly.
“She's lying.”
Lauren turned on him.
“You ruined everything.”
Dominic stepped forward.
“Start talking.”
Lauren looked at Claire.
“The account wasn't mine.”
Claire frowned.
“What account?”
“The one that received the money.”
Dominic looked at her.
Lauren continued.
“Madison created it.”
Claire froze.
“Why?”
“Because she was trying to cover her gambling debts.”
Charles shouted.
“Lauren!”
Lauren screamed back.
“You told me to lie!”
Silence.
Claire looked at her father.
“Tell me the truth.”
Charles said nothing.
Claire stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
He finally spoke.
“Madison took the money.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“How much?”
“Three million.”
Lauren whispered, “It wasn't supposed to be that much.”
Claire turned.
“What?”
Lauren began crying.
“Madison borrowed from Victor.”
Dominic's expression changed.
“Why?”
“To pay her debts.”
Claire looked at Charles.
“And you covered it.”
Charles nodded.
“Because she's my daughter.”
Claire stared at him.
“So am I.”
Charles looked away.
The words hit harder than any confession.
Dominic stepped beside Claire.
“What happened to the $900,000?”
Charles swallowed.
“Victor demanded it.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew about Anne's trust.”
Claire's heart pounded.
“What did he want?”
“You.”
Silence.
Charles looked at her.
“He wanted the trust transferred to you.”
Claire stared.
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if he needs your signature.”
Dominic's face hardened.
“What signature?”
Charles looked toward the floor.
“The final ownership transfer.”
Claire suddenly understood.
Her mother had left her forty-three percent.
Victor needed her to sign it over.
That was why someone had been following her.
That was why her apartment had been searched.
That was why her identity had been used.
Dominic took Claire's hand.
“We're leaving.”
A gunshot exploded from the hallway.
The window shattered.
Dominic pulled Claire down.
Another shot.
Then another.
Security rushed in.
When the shooting stopped, Dominic stood.
Claire was safe.
But Charles was bleeding.
He looked at Claire.
“I lied to you about your mother.”
Claire knelt beside him.
“What happened?”
Charles's eyes filled with regret.
“She wasn't killed by Victor.”
Claire froze.
“Then who?”
Charles looked toward Dominic.
Then whispered one name.
“Rebecca.”
Claire's stepmother.
Before anyone could respond, the mansion lights went out.
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And in the darkness, a woman's voice whispered from the doorway—
“Claire...”
