Chapter 8 - THE BIRTHDAY PARTY WAS NEVER ABOUT LOVE
Alexander had spent weeks believing Olivia wanted him back.
Now he learned the truth was more complicated.
Investigators obtained financial records showing Olivia owed substantial money to a private investment group.
Her former husband had left her with debts she had concealed from friends and family.
She had approached Alexander for help several times.
He had paid some of her expenses.
But recently, he'd refused to cover another large obligation.
Olivia had become desperate.
And someone had offered her a solution.
The private investigator, Calvin Ross, eventually agreed to cooperate with authorities.
His statements described a plan to manipulate Alexander's personal life.
Olivia wanted Emily to believe Alexander had chosen her.
She believed that if the marriage collapsed, Alexander would become emotionally dependent on her again.
But the financial motive ran deeper.
Olivia had also been communicating with a rival businessman named Julian Mercer.
Mercer wanted access to several Hayes hotel properties.
A divorce, he believed, might destabilize Alexander's holdings and create opportunities for acquisition.
Alexander stared at the reports.
“You're telling me she worked with Mercer?”
His attorney nodded.
“That's what the evidence suggests.”
Alexander felt sick.
For years, he'd believed Olivia was loyal.
She remembered his birthdays.
Praised his decisions.
Told him he deserved a woman who understood his world.
Now he saw the calculation beneath the attention.
But one question remained.
Had Olivia intended Grace to leave the school?
Ross said no.
According to his statement, the plan was to delay Alexander until Emily became angry about the missed pickup.
Olivia expected the school to keep Grace safely supervised until someone arrived.
The caller's false message was intended to confuse the pickup process and prolong the delay.
The plan was cruel.
Reckless.
And disastrously indifferent to a child's safety.
But investigators had not found evidence that Olivia intended Grace to die.
Alexander read the statement twice.
Then closed the folder.
His attorney asked:
“Do you want to speak to Olivia?”
Alexander shook his head.
“No.”
“She's asking for you.”
“I don't care.”
For a moment, his old anger rose.
He imagined confronting Mercer.
Making Olivia afraid.
Using every resource at his disposal to punish them.
Then he remembered Emily's words.
Don't let finding someone else to blame become another way of avoiding that.
Alexander looked at his attorney.
“Give the investigators everything.”
He paused.
“Even if it implicates my companies.”
His attorney studied him.
“Alexander, that could have serious consequences.”
Alexander nodded.
“I know.”
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For the first time, he wasn't trying to protect his empire.
He was trying to tell the truth.
