Chapter 8 - THE MILLION-DOLLAR TRAIL
The independent audit began with thirty-six bank transfers.
Each one had left Victor's personal account.
Each one had been labeled FAMILY SUPPORT.
Each one totaled fifty thousand dollars.
The destination account appeared to belong to a private family trust.
But the trust wasn't controlled by Catherine.
It was controlled by Maris.
The auditors traced the money through several entities.
A luxury property company.
An investment partnership.
A private art collection.
And a holding account used to pay expenses for Maris's birthday celebration.
Victor stared at the report.
“Nearly two million dollars.”
The lead auditor nodded.
“One million eight hundred thousand.”
Victor closed his eyes.
His daughter had been hungry.
His wife had been exhausted.
And his mother had been spending their support money on luxury.
He looked at the auditor.
“Can we recover it?”
“Potentially, through legal proceedings.”
Victor nodded.
“Then begin.”
The auditor continued.
“There's another issue.”
Victor looked up.
“The Santa Elena compensation fund.”
His stomach tightened.
“What about it?”
“Several payments appear to have been redirected.”
“Where?”
The auditor hesitated.
“Into the same network of accounts.”
Silence.
Victor stared.
His mother hadn't only stolen from his wife and daughter.
She had also diverted money intended for displaced families.
He looked toward Catherine.
She sat across the room.
Her expression was calm.
But her hands were trembling.
Victor approached.
“You were right.”
She looked up.
“About what?”
“Everything.”
Her eyes filled.
He continued.
“The audit confirms serious irregularities.”
Catherine looked away.
For years, she'd been told she was confused.
Unqualified.
Ungrateful.
Now the evidence was finally being examined.
She took a breath.
“What happens next?”
Victor sat beside her.
“Legal action.”
She nodded.
“And the families?”
He looked at her.
“What families?”
“The people from Santa Elena.”
Victor hesitated.
Catherine's voice hardened.
“This isn't only about us.”
He stared.
She continued.
“Some of those families lost everything.”
Victor looked down.
He had spent years thinking of Silverspring as a business.
Projects.
Profits.
Contracts.
Now he saw the people behind the numbers.
He nodded.
“You're right.”
Catherine studied him.
“Then help them.”
Victor took a breath.
“I will.”
For the first time, he understood that repairing his family meant more than bringing Catherine and Annie home.
May you like
It meant confronting the harm his family's wealth had caused.
Even if doing so threatened the empire he'd inherited.
