Chapter 11
Sarah stepped back from the doorway, pulling her silk dressing gown tighter around her frail frame and gesturing for them to enter her private sitting room. The space was warm, filled with the soft scent of lavender and the gentle hum of an electric air purifier. Dominic walked in first, holding the manila folder securely under his arm, while Clara followed quietly, keeping her bandaged wrists hidden beneath the folds of the wool blanket. Sarah sank into a plush velvet settee, her breathing slightly labored as she looked up at her brother with a mixture of apprehension and lingering resentment. "Well? You didn't drag Clara to my door at midnight just for a social call, Dominic. Spit it out," Sarah urged, her tone sharp despite her physical weakness. Dominic sat down in a nearby armchair, placing the manila folder on the coffee table between them without opening it just yet. "Sarah, for the past six months, you’ve believed that I was slowly draining your personal trust fund to cover corporate debts," Dominic began, his voice calm, steady, and entirely free of defensive posturing. Sarah crossed her arms over her chest, her pale face flushing with sudden color. "Of course I believed it! Eleanor showed me the bank statements, the email correspondence, the transfer logs bearing your electronic signature!" Sarah retorted, her voice rising with indignant pain. Clara stepped forward into the warm light, her face earnest and open as she looked down at the ailing woman. "Miss Sarah, those documents were forged," Clara interjected softly, her voice carrying a profound sincerity that gave Sarah pause. "I found the real files hidden in the study safe. Mrs. Marshall was the one moving the money offshore into unlisted accounts." Sarah stared at Clara, her mouth slightly open as she processed the revelation. She looked back at her brother, searching his dark eyes for any sign of deception or manipulation. Dominic reached out and slid the thick manila folder across the table, tapping the cover with his index finger. "Open it, Sarah. Read the forensic audit report conducted by our independent financial firm yesterday afternoon. It breaks down every single transaction, every forged signature, and every dollar Eleanor redirected into her private accounts," Dominic said quietly. Sarah’s trembling hands reached out for the folder, her fingers fumbling slightly with the clasp as she pulled out the crisp, official documents. The silence in the room became absolute as she began to read the cold, undeniable numbers that laid bare the betrayal of the woman she had trusted like a sister.
