Chapter 5 - The Cage of Profit
As Mara began digging into the encrypted files, the true, horrifying depth of the betrayal became glaringly obvious. Grant hadn't just been abusing me physically; he had been systematically siphoning massive amounts of money from Hart Development. He was hiding the stolen funds through a complex web of shell companies, one of which was discreetly registered under my father's name.
Worse still, the ledgers revealed that my mother had been receiving hefty monthly "consulting fees" from Grant's accounts for work she had never, ever performed.
Together, the three of them had shamelessly used my name, my immaculate legal license, and my professional reputation to make highly fraudulent loans and illegal transfers appear completely legitimate to the federal auditors.
They had not merely abandoned me to a violent monster. They had actively been profiting from the cage I was trapped in. My suffering was literally subsidizing their luxurious lifestyle.
At sunrise, the heavy hospital door swung open. Grant entered intensive care looking like a complete movie star. He was carrying a massive, expensive bouquet of red roses and wearing the exact same concerned, loving expression he used at charity galas.
"My poor, sweet wife," he said loudly, ensuring the nurses at the station could hear his performance.
Then, he leaned in incredibly close, his breath hot against my bruised neck, his voice dropping to a vicious whisper.
"Tell the police you fell down the stairs, Evelyn. Don't make me angry again."
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I stared at him, my face completely blank.
He smiled, a cold, predatory smirk. "I spoke to your parents this morning. They completely agree this should stay private. They don't want a scandal ruining their closing."
