Chapter 6 - Her Father’s First Lie
Vadim reached the vault door in three strides.
Locked.
His phone had no signal.
Elara stared at the fresh note.
“Someone knew we'd come.”
“Yes.”
“Someone at the bank?”
“Or someone following us.”
Vadim examined the lock.
Then he did something surprisingly ordinary.
He pulled the emergency alarm.
Elara almost laughed.
“You don't shoot it?”
“Movies have damaged people's expectations.”
Despite everything, she laughed.
The sound echoed through the vault.
Vadim looked at her.
She realized she was still holding his hand.
Neither moved away.
Seven minutes later, security opened the door.
The bank manager was horrified.
Vadim was not interested in apologies.
He wanted footage.
One camera showed Gerald entering the bank six weeks earlier.
Elara stared at the screen.
“He knew.”
Gerald had opened Evelyn's box.
He had removed something.
But why leave the rest?
Because he wanted Elara to find it.
Or because something frightened him away.
Vadim arranged a meeting.
Gerald arrived at an empty restaurant that evening expecting to negotiate with his new son-in-law.
Instead he found Elara waiting.
His expression hardened.
“You shouldn't be involved.”
“It belongs to me.”
“What?”
“North Star.”
Gerald went still.
Elara placed copies of the records on the table.
“I know.”
Her father's gaze moved to Vadim.
“You've been filling her head.”
“No,” Elara said. “Mother did.”
That hit him.
She saw it.
“You found the box.”
“Yes.”
Gerald sat.
For once, he looked older.
“Your mother was paranoid.”
“She recorded you stealing.”
“I built that company.”
“It existed before you married her.”
“I expanded it.”
“So you deserved to forge my signature?”
His silence was enough.
Elara leaned forward.
“Was Mother's death an accident?”
Gerald looked at her.
Something almost human appeared in his face.
Pain.
“Yes.”
She searched him.
“Did you kill her?”
“No.”
The answer came instantly.
Vadim watched carefully.
Gerald looked at Elara.
“I did terrible things to Evelyn. I controlled her money. I lied. I had affairs. I made her miserable.”
Elara's stomach twisted.
“But I did not kill your mother.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I loved her.”
Elara laughed bitterly.
“That didn't stop you from destroying her.”
Gerald flinched.
Good.
She wanted him to.
Then Vadim placed the photograph of Cassandra on the table.
Gerald's face drained.
“Explain.”
“No.”
Elara stared at him.
“What truth was Mother hiding about Cassandra?”
Gerald stood.
“We're finished.”
Vadim remained seated.
“You leave when my wife says we're finished.”
My wife.
Not my asset.
Not the girl.
Elara looked at Gerald.
“Sit down.”
He actually did.
“Cassandra isn't Evelyn's daughter,” Gerald said.
Elara froze.
“What?”
“She is mine.”
“With whom?”
Gerald looked away.
“Marianne Cole.”
Elara knew the name.
Her mother's best friend.
The woman who disappeared shortly after Evelyn's funeral.
“You had a child with Mom's best friend?”
“Yes.”
“And Mother raised her?”
“For a while.”
Elara felt physically ill.
“Did Cassandra know?”
“No.”
“Does she now?”
Gerald did not answer.
Vadim noticed.
“When did you tell her?”
“Last week.”
Elara's pulse accelerated.
“Why?”
Gerald looked toward her.
“Because Cassandra is the one who requested the North Star audit.”
Silence.
Elara blinked.
“My sister?”
“She discovered irregularities.”
“Why would she investigate your company?”
Gerald laughed bitterly.
“Because she hates me.”
Elara almost said, Join the club.
Instead she asked, “Where is she?”
“I don't know.”
Vadim's phone vibrated.
A message.
He read it.
Then handed it to Elara.
It came from Cassandra.
One sentence.
DON'T TRUST DAD. DON'T TRUST VADIM EITHER.
Below it was an address.
Elara looked up.
Vadim's face revealed nothing.
Gerald stood abruptly.
“You cannot go there.”
“Why?”
May you like
Gerald looked terrified.
“Because that's where your mother died.”
