Chapter 18 - The Last Conversation
Emily refused at first.
“She doesn’t get to demand anything from me.”
Grant agreed.
“You don’t have to speak with her.”
Daniel looked relieved.
Then Vanessa sent a recorded message through her attorney.
It lasted twelve seconds.
“Emily, ask Margaret what Charles knew before your father died.”
Emily replayed it.
Margaret turned pale.
Daniel noticed.
“Mom?”
Margaret sat down.
“There is something I never told anyone.”
Emily’s chest tightened.
“What?”
Margaret looked toward Robert’s letter.
“Charles received a package the morning after your father died.”
Daniel frowned.
“What package?”
“Documents.”
Emily stared.
“From my father?”
“I believe so.”
“What happened to them?”
Margaret’s voice shook.
“Charles burned them.”
Silence filled the room.
Daniel looked at his mother as if he had never seen her before.
“He destroyed evidence?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He was terrified.”
“Of what?”
Margaret cried.
“Of scandal.”
Emily felt the old anger return.
“My father died trying to give him the truth.”
“I know.”
“And Charles burned it?”
Margaret nodded.
“He believed exposing Victor would destroy the company.”
Emily stood.
“So he protected the Hawthorne name.”
Margaret could barely speak.
“Yes.”
Daniel looked devastated.
“My father knew Robert was innocent.”
“By then, yes.”
“And he never cleared him.”
“No.”
Daniel walked away.
Emily understood his anger.
The past was no longer simple.
Victor had framed Robert.
Evelyn had helped.
But Charles Hawthorne had discovered the truth and chosen silence.
That silence had lasted seventeen years.
Emily finally agreed to speak with Vanessa.
Not privately.
The conversation was recorded by investigators.
Vanessa appeared on a secure video call from a Canadian detention facility.
She looked exhausted.
No perfect makeup.
No black designer dress.
No confidence.
Emily stared at her.
“You wanted to talk.”
Vanessa gave a small smile.
“You finally know.”
“I know enough.”
“Do you?”
Emily remained silent.
Vanessa leaned toward the camera.
“Your father wasn’t destroyed only by my family.”
“No.”
Emily’s voice stayed calm.
“He was destroyed by people who stole.”
Another pause.
“And people who were too cowardly to admit they were wrong.”
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
“You think Daniel is different?”
“Yes.”
“You’re sure?”
“He showed the footage.”
Vanessa laughed.
“Because it protected him.”
Emily shook her head.
“No.”
“He could have protected his family name by keeping everything quiet.”
She looked directly into Vanessa’s eyes.
“He didn’t.”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
Emily continued.
“That’s the difference between you.”
Vanessa looked away.
“You ruined my life.”
Emily almost could not believe the words.
“No.”
Her voice hardened.
“You planted a necklace in my bag.”
“You don’t understand what my father went through.”
“I understand perfectly.”
Emily leaned closer.
“Your father became a criminal after being trusted.”
“My father was cheated.”
“Then he should have fought honestly.”
Vanessa’s eyes flashed.
Emily continued.
“Instead, he destroyed my father.”
Vanessa said nothing.
“And you tried to destroy me.”
Emily paused.
“But you made one mistake.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“You assumed I would be ashamed after the truth came out.”
Emily’s eyes were steady.
“I’m not.”
May you like
She ended the call.
Three days later, Vanessa was extradited back to the United States.
