Chapter 15 - The Archive
Daniel had kept copies of Grant’s hidden accounts for almost two years.
Not because he planned to expose him.
Because he was afraid Grant might one day blame everything on him.
Vincent stared at his brother across the conference table.
“So even your evidence was about protecting yourself.”
Daniel nodded.
“At first.”
“What changed?”
“Mia.”
Vincent’s expression tightened.
Daniel looked exhausted.
“When Grant went near her school, I finally understood what Grace had been trying to tell me. There is no containing a man like that.”
The archive linked Grant to shell companies, the garage payment, bribes, forged vendor contracts, and Kevin Shaw.
It also proved Celeste had received monthly transfers after Grace’s death.
Her relationship with Vincent had been funded.
Planned.
Managed.
Vincent felt humiliated, then angry at himself for feeling humiliated.
Grace’s letter came back to him.
You trusted people you loved.
That is not the same as choosing what they did.
Prosecutors offered Daniel limited consideration for full cooperation.
Vincent did not interfere.
“Whatever happens,” he told him, “you tell the truth.”
Daniel nodded.
“I will.”
Grant’s attorney claimed the voicemail was fabricated.
The mechanic was unreliable.
Celeste was a liar.
Every attack was predictable.
Then investigators found the original garage camera archive.
Grant was visible entering the building.
Kevin Shaw delivered Grace’s car.
Celeste arrived twenty minutes later.
And Daniel was nowhere in sight.
For the first time, the case had a clean shape.
But Vincent still had one question.
“Why did Grant need Mia to believe I wasn’t her father?”
Price answered.
“Because Grace’s trust transferred voting control of her company shares to Mia.”
Vincent frowned.
“If Mia were ruled not to be my child…”
“Grant could challenge who controlled the trust.”
Vincent felt cold.
The fake DNA test had never been about family shame.
May you like
It had been about power.
And Celeste had used a corporate scheme to convince a little girl she was unwanted.
