Chapter 5: My Father’s Voice
Adrian found me in the empty ballroom after the guests had gone.
Staff members were collecting untouched glasses while I read my father’s declaration for the fourth time.
“You should have left when Mother told you to,” he said.
I held up the page.
“You forged this.”
“Your father signed it.”
“He was in the hospital on that date.”
“He still had a pen.”
I stepped toward him.
“You used his final days to steal my voice.”
Adrian took out his phone.
“Perhaps you should hear his.”
He played a recording.
My father’s tired voice filled the empty room.
“Eleanor is not ready.
Adrian must take control until she understands what this company requires.”
My hand caught the back of a chair.
Adrian watched my knees weaken and smiled.
“He trusted me,” he said.
“Not you.”
“Turn it off.”
“He knew you were too emotional.”
“Turn it off!”
Daniel entered and took the phone from Adrian’s hand.
“That is enough.”
Adrian grabbed it back.
“She deserves the truth.”
“No,” Daniel said.
“She deserves the entire recording.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t have it.”
Daniel faced me.
“Your father did say those words, Eleanor.”
I stared at him.
“You knew?”
“I was in the room.”
“And you let me believe he trusted me with everything.”
“He did trust you.
But first, he doubted you.”
The words took what strength I had left.
I lowered myself into a chair and pressed both hands over my mouth.
Daniel crouched beside me.
“He was frightened and ill.
Adrian had been feeding him false reports for months.”
“You still said nothing.”
“I was a coward.”
My eyes filled.
“I spent three years defending you to the board.”
“I know.”
“And you watched my husband use my father against me.”
“Yes.” Daniel’s voice broke.
“I failed you.”
A chair moved behind us.
Vanessa approached slowly, carrying my coat.
“You’re cold,” she said.
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“I understand.”
She placed the coat around my shoulders anyway, then sat on the floor beside my chair.
“I believed every lie he told me,” she said.
“But I knew he was married, and I stayed.
I am sorry.”
“You kissed him in front of me.”
“He told me you had agreed to announce your separation tonight.”
“And you believed that?”
“No.” Tears ran down her face.
“Not by the time he walked onto that stage.”
She opened her purse and removed a small black phone.
“He gave me this for private calls.
I started recording him after he asked me to sign the share transfer.”
Adrian moved toward her.
“Give me that phone.”
Vanessa rose and stood behind Daniel.
“No.”
“You accepted gifts, money, and a title.
You are part of this.”
“Then I’ll answer for my part.”
Grace hurried into the ballroom, still wearing her coat.
“What is on the phone?”
“Calls, messages, and one conversation about the retirement money.”
Adrian laughed.
“A recording made without consent may be useless.”
“Not in this state,” Grace replied.
Vanessa unlocked the device.
“There’s also a voice message he sent yesterday.”
She pressed play.
Adrian’s voice came through clearly.
“Once Eleanor is declared incapable, burn the original transfers.
If Daniel talks, Colin will take care of him.”
Colin was Adrian’s younger brother.
May you like
Daniel looked toward the doors.
Colin was standing there, and he had heard every word.
