Chapter 4 - The Poison in the Wine
Evelyn didn't move, but her gaze shifted from my face to Grant’s. "Grant? What is she talking about?"
Grant’s face turned bright red. "She’s lying, Mother! She forged those documents! She’s trying to turn us against each other because she’s losing her mind!"
"I don't forge documents, Grant," I said smoothly. "I leave that to you and your business partner." I turned my attention to Julian, who had suddenly stopped leaning against the archway. His easy, arrogant posture vanished.
"Julian," I said, looking at Grant’s brother. "You’ve been remarkably quiet tonight. Tell your mother about the second offshore account in the Cayman Islands. The one with your name listed as the primary beneficiary."
Julian’s jaw dropped. "Mara... wait a minute. You have no right to—"
"I have every right," I interrupted. "Because the money Grant embezzled from his mother didn't go to Tessa’s boutique. It went to fund the shell corporation you and Grant set up to short-sell your own family’s commercial real estate firm."
Tessa, who had been listening with an increasingly confused expression, stepped forward in her sparkling green dress. "Grant... what is she saying? You told me you owned sixty percent of the firm!"
May you like
I turned to Tessa and let out a soft, genuine laugh. "He doesn't even own the car he drove you here in, Tessa. The lease is under my company’s name. And as of five minutes ago, I reported it stolen."
Outside, right on cue, the faint sound of sirens began to echo down the long, private driveway leading up to the estate.
