Chapter 7 - The Betrayal of Brotherly Love
As the officers began leading Grant and Tessa out the door, Julian tried to slip out into the hallway toward the study.
"Mr. Julian Sterling?" the investigator called out, stopping him dead in his tracks.
Julian turned around, sweating profusely. "Look, officer, I’m just the brother. I have no part in Grant’s business dealings. I run my own practice."
"We have sixteen recorded phone calls between you and Mr. Sterling discussing the liquidation of your mother’s accounts," the investigator replied coldly. "You’ll need to come down to the station for questioning. You can come voluntarily, or we can put the cuffs on you right here in front of your mother."
Evelyn looked at Julian as if she were seeing a stranger. The regal, proud matriarch of the Sterling family looked broken. "Julian... you too?"
"Mother, listen to me," Julian stammered, his face pale. "Grant told me it was an investment! He said we would double your money!"
"You betrayed me," Evelyn whispered, her voice cracking with a pain that no amount of money could fix. "Both of my sons... you traded me for scraps."
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I looked at Evelyn. For years, she had criticized my parenting, my background, my quiet nature. She had always believed her sons were gods among men, incapable of flaw. Now, standing in the ruins of her family, she looked smaller than she ever had.
"The house keys are on the kitchen counter, Evelyn," I said gently, without a shred of malice. "The locksmith will be here at eight in the morning to change the security codes. You can stay tonight, but you need to be gone by morning."
