Chapter 6 - What Daniel Recorded
Nobody moved while Victor's voice continued.
Daniel Pierce sounded nervous.
"We can't keep moving restricted donations."
Victor answered:
"Eleanor's gift covers the capital requirement. The rest buys us time."
"Time for what?"
"To fix the other accounts."
"Other accounts?"
Samuel swore under his breath.
The flash drive contained spreadsheets showing more than the children's wing.
For three years, the Whitmore Foundation had used new donations to cover old shortfalls.
Not every expense was fraudulent. Some were legitimate programs. Some were poorly managed. Some were impossible to explain.
Eleanor's money had prevented the children's project from collapsing long enough for Victor to keep pretending everything was healthy.
Charles looked at his mother.
"He used your farm to hide his mess."
"My money went where I intended. The problem is what he moved after it arrived."
By morning, the foundation board froze discretionary spending and hired an independent forensic firm.
The canceled wedding had become national gossip.
A clip of Isabella saying "You smell like a farm" passed five million views.
Brands dropped her from two charity partnerships.
Her phone filled with messages calling her cruel, spoiled, fake.
She did not deserve threats.
Charles told his staff to publicly condemn them.
"Good."
"You saw the statement?"
"Yes."
"People think I'm defending her."
"Then people can learn nuance."
At noon Isabella drove to Rose Creek Farm alone.
Eleanor found her standing near the porch in jeans and a plain white shirt.
"Mrs. Bennett."
"I came to apologize."
"All right."
"I was cruel."
"Yes."
The simple answer hurt more than anger.
"I thought you looked down on me."
"Why?"
"My father told me you never thought I was good enough for Charles."
"I never said that."
Isabella reached into her bag.
"He showed me messages."
She handed Eleanor printed screenshots.
Her face changed.
"I didn't write these."
Isabella went pale.
May you like
The cruelty at the altar had not been invented by Victor.
But the resentment behind it had been fed for months with forged messages.
