CHAPTER 7 — THE PRICE OF GREED
CHAPTER 7 — THE PRICE OF GREED
The wind carried Helena's confession across the quiet coastal property.
For several long seconds, no one moved.
Not Adrian.
Not Lily.
Not even the armed mercenaries who had been hired without knowing the truth.
Helena smiled with complete confidence.
"You finally understand."
She lifted her chin proudly.
"Everything I did was for the Whitmore legacy."
Adrian's expression never changed.
"No."
"It was for your greed."
Helena laughed.
"You've always been sentimental."
"You would have handed billions to a child."
"I would have protected my daughter."
Adrian slowly removed a small digital recorder from inside his jacket.
He held it where everyone could see.
"I already have your confession."
The smile disappeared from Helena's face.
"What?"
"You admitted to forging documents."
"You admitted to stealing my daughter."
"You admitted your motive."
He pressed one button.
Her own voice echoed through the speakers.
"If she disappeared... I inherited the empire."
Several mercenaries looked at one another.
Their leader lowered his rifle.
"This wasn't our contract."
Helena turned sharply.
"Pick up your weapons!"
No one moved.
"I said shoot him!"
The leader shook his head.
"We provide security."
"We don't help people kidnap children."
One by one...
The mercenaries lowered their guns.
Helena suddenly realized she was standing alone.
Blue and red lights flashed in the distance.
Police vehicles raced toward the cottage.
Behind them came federal investigators and prosecutors.
Adrian's chief investigator stepped out of the first vehicle.
"We traced Helena's communications after Dr. Reed's murder."
He held up a stack of warrants.
"The court approved everything."
Helena took several slow steps backward.
"You planned this."
Adrian answered calmly.
"No."
"You planned this five years ago."
"We simply uncovered it."
Desperate, Helena reached inside her handbag.
Several officers drew their weapons.
Instead of a gun...
She pulled out a lighter.
Before anyone understood what she intended, she set a thick envelope on fire.
The documents burst into flames.
"My evidence dies with me!"
She laughed wildly.
But Adrian didn't move.
"It doesn't matter."
She stared at him.
"What?"
"We already copied every file."
Her laughter stopped.
The burning papers slipped from her hands.
For the first time in years...
Helena Whitmore looked afraid.
The officers placed her in handcuffs.
As they led her toward the patrol car, she looked back at Adrian.
"You think you've won."
He didn't answer.
She looked toward Emma.
"One day she'll hate you for what you've done."
Before Adrian could respond, a small voice answered instead.
"No..."
Everyone turned.
Emma stepped forward holding Lily's hand.
"I don't even know you."
"But I know who my mommy is."
She looked up at Lily with a smile.
"And I know who my daddy is."
Helena lowered her head.
For the first time...
She had nothing left to say.
Three months later...
The investigation exposed an enormous criminal network.
Hospital administrators.
Lawyers.
A corrupt judge.
Two private investigators.
Several executives from companies Helena secretly controlled.
Every one of them had accepted money to erase the existence of one little girl.
More than thirty people were arrested.
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The Whitmore Foundation recovered hundreds of millions of dollars that had been hidden through fraudulent accounts.
The empire Helena had tried to steal became the evidence that convicted her.
