The Boardroom Ambush
Chapter 17 - The Boardroom Ambush
The evidence on Sloan’s drive transformed suspicion into a criminal case. Emails showed Gregory and Regina had diverted millions from relief funds, staged Amelia’s crash, paid the clinic to report Elena’s death, and arranged Samuel’s fatal hit-and-run. Sloan had continued the payments and destroyed records after Gregory died.
Regina was charged with conspiracy, kidnapping, fraud, obstruction, and attempted witness intimidation. Sloan faced the same investigation. Dr. Wren agreed to testify in exchange for consideration, though no one promised mercy.
The most painful evidence was a recording Gregory had made during an argument with Regina. He feared she would one day blame him and secretly kept copies.
“The baby changes the trust,” Regina said on the tape. “If Amelia disappears alone, the child inherits. They both have to vanish.”
Gregory answered, “I did not agree to kill an infant.”
“No one said kill. Put her somewhere no Hawthorne will ever look.”
Vivienne listened in her study, eyes closed. Elena sat beside Amelia, whose hand tightened around hers.
Celeste stood near the door, white with shock.
Regina had not merely raised her to inherit. She had built Celeste’s entire identity on the removal of another child.
“I was the decoration on her crime,” Celeste said.
Amelia looked at her. “You were a child too.”
The words broke something open in Celeste. She knelt beside Amelia’s chair and wept.
Elena did not join the embrace, but she did not turn away.
Later, Vivienne offered Elena immediate control of the family trust. Elena asked for three conditions: Amelia’s medical care must be independent of Hawthorne influence; the stolen relief money must be repaid with interest; and a fund must be created for children whose identities had been altered through illegal adoptions.
“You have not asked for a house, an account, or a title,” Vivienne said.
“I have spent my life inside systems that decided what I deserved without asking me. I will not inherit one system just to become the person making those decisions.”
Vivienne smiled through tears. “Then perhaps you are ready before you believe you are.”
A trial date was set.
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But Regina requested one final private meeting with Elena before entering her plea.
Against every lawyer’s advice, Elena agreed.
