Chapter 11: The Woman Who Betrayed My Father
I arrived at the family office within fifteen minutes.
The security team had already stopped Lydia.
She sat in the conference room, her hands folded tightly in front of her.
She looked smaller than she had before.
Not innocent.
Not guilty.
Just scared.
When I entered, she stood.
“Claire.””
I raised my hand.
“Don’t.””
She stopped.
Because she knew.
There were no words that could repair what she had done.
“What were you looking for?””
Lydia looked away.
“I wasn’t trying to steal anything.””
“That wasn’t my question.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to find the original files.””
“The ownership documents.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Silence.
Then:
“Because Adrian said they would prove everything.””
I stared at her.
“You still believe him?””
“No.””
The answer came immediately.
That surprised me.
“No?””
She shook her head.
“I stopped believing him when I saw what he planned to do to you.””
I looked at the security guard.
“Give us privacy.””
After they left, I sat across from her.
“Start from the beginning.””
Lydia took a deep breath.
“Adrian contacted me two years ago.””
“Two years?””
“Yes.””
My jaw tightened.
“He was already planning this.””
She nodded.
“He said he needed someone inside the family office. Someone who understood your father’s records.””
“And you agreed.””
“My brother was in debt.””
There it was.
The explanation.
Not an excuse.
An explanation.
“He offered money.””
“How much?””
She looked ashamed.
“Enough to save my family.””
I leaned back.
“And what did he ask you to do?””
“Find anything connected to Hawthorne ownership.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Did you find something?””
She hesitated.
That hesitation told me everything.
“Lydia.””
She reached into her bag.
Then placed a small folder on the table.
“I found this last year.””
I opened it.
Inside was a photocopy of an old handwritten note.
My father’s handwriting.
But the words were not meant for me.
*Robert,*
*You cannot continue this. The truth about Adrian must remain hidden. If Claire ever learns what happened, she will never forgive either of us.*
My heart stopped.
“Who is Robert?””
Lydia swallowed.
“Your uncle.””
I looked at the note again.
“What happened?””
She shook her head.
“I don’t know.””
“But Adrian does.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I found another document.””
She opened her phone.
A photograph appeared.
A journal page.
Written by Charles Hawthorne.
*Robert believed the only way to reclaim control was to expose Evelyn’s betrayal. He threatened to reveal everything. Adrian heard the argument. He knows what happened that night.*
I stared at the words.
The argument.
My mother.
My uncle.
Adrian.
Everything was connected.
“What happened that night?””
Lydia looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
Then my phone rang.
Thomas.
I answered.
“Thomas?””
His voice was urgent.
“Claire, you need to leave immediately.””
“Why?””
“Because someone accessed the private archives.””
“I know. Lydia was there.””
“No.””
His voice dropped.
“It wasn’t Lydia.””
I froze.
“What?””
“Someone accessed the archives after Lydia left.””
I looked at Lydia.
She looked just as confused.
“Who?””
Thomas was silent.
Then he said:
“Your mother.””
My blood ran cold.
“That’s impossible.””
“I know.””
“Thomas, my mother has been dead for years.””
“I know.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Then how?””
A pause.
May you like
Then:
“Because the person who accessed the archive used your mother’s private security code.””
