Chapter 8 - THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT EXPOSED SOPHIA
Sophia's threat about money returned to haunt Alexander.
He ordered an internal review of several accounts she'd managed while working with his businesses.
The results were alarming.
Payments to consulting firms that didn't exist.
Invoices approved without supporting documents.
Transfers routed through a company registered in Delaware.
Alexander's attorney, Michael Trent, examined the records.
“This could be fraud.”
Alexander stared.
“How much?”
Michael hesitated.
“Nearly two million dollars.”
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“Where did it go?”
Michael turned the laptop.
A photograph appeared.
Sophia standing beside a man outside a luxury hotel in Miami.
Alexander recognized him.
Victor Sloane.
A businessman with connections to one of the Moretti family's rivals.
Michael continued.
“We have evidence Sophia met with Sloane repeatedly.”
Alexander stared.
“And?”
“Some transfers appear connected to those meetings.”
Alexander's face hardened.
For months, Sophia had told him Claire was jealous.
Controlling.
Unreasonable.
All while using his trust to move money.
He remembered the way she'd answered his phone.
The way she'd lied about Claire's messages.
The way she'd demanded that Ethan apologize.
Suddenly, every detail looked different.
Michael leaned forward.
“Alexander, there's something else.”
He opened another file.
A photograph of Sophia entering a private office.
The timestamp showed the night Claire's mother died.
Alexander stared.
“What's this?”
Michael answered carefully.
“She wasn't at home with you all night.”
Alexander's stomach tightened.
“Where was she?”
Michael looked at the photograph.
“With Sloane.”
May you like
Alexander sat back.
And realized that the woman he'd defended while destroying his marriage had been betraying him too.
