Chapter 11 - THE TRUTH ABOUT AARON'S DEATH
The investigation lasted months.
Financial experts reviewed the loan records.
Authorities examined the transfers.
Former borrowers came forward.
They described similar experiences.
Loans that grew unexpectedly.
Insurance payments that disappeared.
Boats seized despite substantial repayments.
Delphine listened to their stories.
She recognized the exhaustion.
The shame.
The way people blamed themselves for numbers they couldn't understand.
Then the investigators uncovered evidence that Aaron had been threatened after questioning the accounting.
A former employee of Hion Ridge admitted that Aaron's complaints had been flagged internally.
His name appeared on a list of borrowers considered troublesome.
Delphine stared at the report.
“Did they kill him?”
The investigator shook his head.
“We don't have evidence that anyone caused his death.”
She swallowed.
The investigator continued.
“But we do have evidence suggesting the financial pressure and threats he experienced were part of a deliberate scheme.”
Delphine closed her eyes.
For years, she'd wondered whether Aaron had simply worked himself to death.
Now she knew the debt had been manipulated.
The pressure had been real.
And the people responsible had known exactly what they were doing.
She cried.
Not because the truth was simple.
Because it wasn't.
Elias sat beside her.
He didn't touch her.
Didn't offer money.
Didn't tell her everything would be fine.
He simply waited.
After a long time, Delphine looked at him.
“Will they be held accountable?”
Elias nodded.
“The evidence is being pursued.”
She swallowed.
“Good.”
Then she looked toward Aaron's photograph.
May you like
And whispered:
“You were right.”
