Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO THOUGHT CHILDREN WERE LEVERAGE
Ethan contacted the police immediately.
Lily remained at the estate with me while investigators reviewed the threats.
Richard Haynes denied everything.
He claimed Victoria was emotionally unstable after the broken engagement.
He insisted the intercepted letter was a misunderstanding.
And he dismissed the Bellwether evidence as outdated research.
But the investigators found something he hadn't anticipated.
Records.
Emails.
Payments.
And testimony from the former executive assistant who had altered my letter.
She admitted Richard instructed her to replace it with a false message.
She also confirmed that he had pressured university administrators to terminate the Bellwether research partnership.
The motive was financial.
The contamination reports threatened a lucrative network of contracts.
Richard wanted Ethan dependent on his advice.
He wanted Victoria married into the Caldwell family.
And he wanted anyone who might challenge the arrangement removed from Ethan's life.
Including me.
When investigators uncovered messages discussing Lily's routine, Richard faced additional scrutiny for possible intimidation.
The evidence was enough to trigger a broader investigation.
Ethan watched the developments with a grim expression.
One evening, he looked at me.
“I trusted him.”
I nodded.
“I know.”
“He helped me after my father died.”
“I know.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“I thought he was family.”
I looked toward Lily's room.
“Sometimes the people who claim to protect us are the ones we need protection from.”
May you like
Ethan closed his eyes.
Then nodded.
