Chapter 14 - Susan Changes Sides
Susan’s voice shook on the witness stand, but she did not look at Daniel.
“He came to my house Friday night,” she said. “He told me Emily was about to destroy the family company and lose the house. He showed me text messages. He said she was having some kind of breakdown.”
Margaret asked, “Did he threaten you?”
Susan swallowed. “He said if I refused to sign, he would release private medical debt information about me and tell Emily I had been borrowing money from him.”
Emily stared at her mother.
“You borrowed from Daniel?” the judge asked.
Susan nodded.
“Forty thousand dollars over two years.”
Emily felt another betrayal arrive, smaller than the first but sharper.
Daniel’s attorney stood. “Mrs. Hayes is changing her story because her daughter pressured her.”
Susan finally looked at Daniel.
“No. I’m changing it because this morning he sent me a message saying, ‘You already lied once. Don’t get brave now.’”
The courtroom murmured.
Daniel closed his eyes.
The judge reinstated Emily’s trust authority pending a full evidentiary hearing and referred the forged documents to prosecutors.
Outside court, reporters crowded the steps.
Daniel pushed through them without speaking.
Emily stayed inside.
She did not feel victorious.
She felt tired.
Susan approached her carefully.
“I’m sorry.”
Emily looked at her. “For which part?”
Susan flinched.
“I was ashamed about the money.”
“So you trusted him instead of me.”
“I thought I was helping you.”
“No. You were helping yourself avoid an uncomfortable conversation.”
Susan began to cry.
Emily’s voice stayed level. “I love you. But I cannot comfort you for what you did to me.”
She walked away.
In the hallway, Jonathan waited behind a security detail.
Susan saw him.
The sound she made was not quite a scream.
She grabbed the wall.
Jonathan took one step toward her.
“Susie.”
She slapped him hard enough to turn his head.
Then she collapsed against him sobbing.
Emily looked away.
Her phone buzzed.
A Vance & Hayes alert.
Carter Construction had moved $8.6 million out of its operating account thirty minutes earlier.
Destination: NORTHSTAR HOLDINGS.
Authorized by Daniel Carter.
Emily looked at Paul.
“He’s running.”
May you like
Paul shook his head.
“No. He’s finishing the plan.”
