Chapter 7 - The Land Deal Changed Everything
Westbridge’s first major waterfront project had made Nathan wealthy.
Charles helped acquire the land. Richard structured the financing.
Nathan built the project.
Sophia’s records suggested Charles had received confidential information
about future city infrastructure before Ashford bought options from
several small property owners.
Richard may have arranged the information.
The $250,000 payment appeared connected to his silence.
Nathan refused to declare anything proven before an independent review.
That choice mattered.
His family had already suffered from adults turning assumptions into
certainty.
Claire requested an interview.
She admitted Margaret contacted her a year earlier and warned that
Sophia had left evidence capable of damaging Westbridge.
Claire became afraid Emma’s inheritance would disappear.
Then Richard convinced her Nathan had known about the old land deal all
along.
“Why didn’t you ask me?” Nathan demanded.
Claire answered bitterly.
“Would you have listened? Sophia tried.”
Nathan went silent.
The criticism hurt because part of it was fair.
It still did not excuse the chain.
“You restrained my daughter.”
Claire cried.
“I panicked.”
“Nobody told you to do that.”
“No.”
“Then say it.”
Claire looked at him.
“I did it.”
Nathan nodded.
Truth did not equal forgiveness.
Then Claire revealed something new.
Emma had not wandered into Nathan’s office.
Someone sent a message to the child’s tablet:
GO TO DADDY’S OFFICE. MOMMY LEFT YOU A BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
May you like
The message came from Sophia’s old email address.
Someone had deliberately sent Emma toward Richard.
