Chapter 19 - THE WIFE WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BETRAY HIM
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I had never signed a guardianship application.
The signature looked like mine, but the date was impossible. Three months earlier, I had been in New York for a business conference.
"I didn't authorize this," I said.
Eleanor nodded.
"I know. Marcus forged it."
Dorian took the document from me.
"He's trying to take the company and use Audra as the legal justification."
"Exactly," Eleanor replied. "If he can convince a court that you're incapable of managing your affairs, he can transfer control of the family assets while claiming your wife supports the arrangement."
I looked at Dorian.
"Would you have believed I signed it?"
His face tightened.
"Before all this? I might have."
The honesty hurt, but I appreciated it more than another lie.
Eleanor explained that Marcus had spent years building influence among the family's lawyers, accountants, and business partners. Evelyn had helped him, believing she could control him once he took over.
She had underestimated him.
"He doesn't want to preserve the family," Eleanor said. "He wants to own it."
"Then we expose him," I replied.
Dorian shook his head.
"Not without protecting the employees who depend on the legitimate businesses. If everything collapses overnight, thousands of innocent people could lose their jobs."
I understood his concern.
For seventeen years, I had watched the empire grow. Beneath the criminal operations were hotels, shipping companies, construction firms, and ordinary workers who had never known the truth.
"We separate the legitimate businesses from the criminal network," I said. "We give investigators everything. We cooperate with the courts and let the innocent companies survive if they can."
Dorian studied me.
"That could cost us everything."
"It already has."
For the first time, he didn't argue.
The detective arranged a meeting with federal investigators. Eleanor provided the documents, Catherine authenticated the recordings, and Blythe submitted the financial files she had collected.
Then Marcus made a mistake.
He contacted Dorian through a secure channel and demanded a private meeting to discuss the guardianship application.
Dorian agreed, but only after informing the investigators.
The meeting took place in a conference room at a hotel under surveillance.
Marcus arrived in an expensive suit, smiling as if he had already won.
"You should have listened to your mother," he told Dorian.
"Which mother?" Dorian replied. "The one who faked her death or the one you helped frame?"
Marcus's smile faltered.
I placed the forged application on the table.
"You used my name."
He looked at me with contempt.
"You were never supposed to see it."
"That seems to be the theme of my marriage."
He ignored the remark.
"You have no idea how much money is involved."
"Then explain it to the investigators."
His eyes shifted toward the door.
Two federal agents entered.
Marcus reached for his phone, but one of them ordered him to keep his hands visible.
For the first time, the man who had controlled the Kincaid accounts looked frightened.
As they escorted him out, he turned toward Dorian.
"You think this ends with me?"
Dorian stood.
"No. I think it begins with you."
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"You still don't understand. I wasn't the one who arranged the original transfers."
The agents stopped.
I felt the room go silent.
Marcus looked directly at me.
"Your father signed the first authorization."
I stared at him.
"That's impossible."
May you like
Marcus smiled.
"Ask him why he disappeared."
