Sullivan asked why Prue hadn’t gone to the police when she had evidence. I explained how Mother used money—my money—and the Kendry power to make people look away. If Prue had gone to the police, I would have lost the only person on my side in that house.
“I stuck around all these years because Mr. Noah asked me to look after Charlotte to the best of my ability if anything were to happen to him. I’m sure he didn’t picture the extent of this outcome. I know I didn’t when I made that promise to him,” Prue said.
“I think we should go over the damage your mother has done to what your father left you over the years,” JJ said, laying out documents.
The real estate had been left untouched. I had a condo in New York, a house in Aspen, and a beach house in California, all of which Mother had frequented but I’d never seen. According to JJ, the locks had been changed and staff informed thatMother was barred. He had also started the eviction process to get Mother out of my house here in Summerhaven. He went over a list of vehicles, safety deposit boxes, stocks, bonds, so on and so forth. There was so much Father had left me that I was beginning to get overwhelmed. Then JJ started talking about the accounts and how their balances had changed since Father died. Mother had spent millions over the past twelve years; across all accounts, I had a little over a million left. With my shares in the Kendry company, I would have continuous income, but I told Sullivan I would sell them to him.
“I don’t know how she planned to get away with spending all this,” JJ said.
“I’m surprised she didn’t just kill Charlotte to get everything,” Prue said.
“Because I would have known,” Sullivan said as he stood by the large window and stared out at Summerhaven. “After my son died, I suspected her. I didn’t have any proof, but she knew I suspected her. Especially after how upset she got when she learned Noah had willed everything to Charlotte. She knew she wouldn’t be able to get away with murder a second time. So she went about it a different way.” He turned to face me. “We went to court over your custodianship and she won simply because she was your mother. I may have influence and power in the business world, but judges are hard to sway unless I can get dirt on them.”
He was a scary man.
“She probably never planned to tell you what Noah left to you,” he continued. “She enjoyed the control and spending of your wealth while she could. Planned to sell you for one last cash grab and probably would have disappeared. Or she would have killed you after you married into the Carmichael family and pinned your death on them. Spun it as if they were after the shares Noah left you.” He made his way back to the head ofthe table. “We may never know what that woman had planned exactly, but it’s over for her now. I’ve texted my assistant to bring the police here. I trust that you will all provide statements.” He pointedly stared at me when he said that.
Prue and JJ said they would and I nodded.
“Good. While we wait for them to arrive, I would like to discuss the buyback of the shares you have in my company.”
“All right,” I said.
Prue stood. “I’ll go sit in the lobby until the police get here,” she said, excusing herself from the room.
Sullivan looked to JJ, who handed him a document. Sullivan read it over and pulled a pen from the inside pocket of his sport coat. He crossed something out on the document and wrote something over it. He then slid the document over to me. “This is my official offer for the shares.”
I read over it. He had crossed out the original price he was willing to pay and doubled it.
“After reading all the letters my son wrote, I realized that the main focus in every letter was you,” Sullivan said as he stared at me. “To make sure you were taken care of.”
I stared down at the document as I thought.
Sullivan leaned back in his chair. “I could have never raised or loved someone else’s child.”
I did not react to his harsh words, only stared back at him.
“But my son was a kinder man than I’ve ever been. He loved you. He claimed you as his own. I increased my original offer because I loved my son.” He went quiet for a moment. “Do you still intend to go to Brown and follow in your father’s footsteps?”
I shook my head. “I want to have a quiet life where I can draw and be happy.”
He didn’t look pleased. “Everything your mother did is going to cause a scandal. I would like to lessen the number of things she got away with under my nose. One being your illegitimacy. Iwould like you to keep the Kendry name and not advertise that Noah wasn’t your real father.”
“Some people know. I’m currently living with my biological father now,” I said.
He didn’t look pleased by that, either. “Try not to tell anyone else. If it comes out later on, I’ll tackle it then, I suppose.” He glanced at the document in front of me. “Along with my offer for the shares, I would like to add a stipulation.”
“And that is?” I asked.
“I would like you to spend time with me for at least one week and one holiday each year,” he said.
I tried not to react and failed. “To keep up appearances?”
“No,” he said. “I may not be able to see you as mine, but you were Noah’s. A child he loved greatly, and I owe it to him to know you better.”
I thought about it and stared down at the amount he was offering me. There were a lot of zeros. It was a lot more than Mother would have gotten for selling me to the Carmichaels. “All right.”
Everything went by in a blur after that. The police showed up and we all spoke to them. Then I was sent on my way.
