Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 47

Colin scratched his head, thinking hard. After a moment, he mumbled, "Grandma? Mom?"

Brandon looked at his younger brother. "For once, you're using your brain. It's possible. Both Grandma and Mom probably had substantial personal savings. They always doted on Lillian, the youngest and only girl. It wouldn't be surprising if they gave her some money."

The two of them briefly discussed it and agreed it was the most likely explanation.

But Martin shook his head, looking at his two sons. "Your mother has been institutionalized for years. How could she have given Lillian money? I manage all her assets myself. What could she possibly give? And your grandmother... yes, she favored Lillian, but did she have enough money to fund Sebastian's entire startup? That was not a small sum!"

Martin's words brought his sons back to reality. He was right. The amount of capital needed to support Sebastian's venture was enormous. Back then, the Mercer family was at the height of its wealth and influence, so even though they knew Lillian was investing heavily in Sebastian's company, they hadn't objected, especially given Sebastian's status as an illegitimate son of the Blake Group. But thinking back on it now, the amount of money Lillian had provided was truly staggering. It was a sum that would make even them envious today. And yet, that money had not come from the Mercer family.

So where on earth had it come from?

Martin, more than anyone, wanted to know the truth. "Sons, haven't you checked her bank accounts? Haven't you traced the source of her funds?"

Brandon looked at Colin.

"I tried," Colin said, "but I don't have the security clearance. I can't access it."

At these words, Brandon froze.

Martin was incredulous. "What do you mean, you don't have the security clearance? What kind of treatment do you think the Mercer family gets from the banks? You're telling me you don't have enough clearance to check your own sister's finances?"

"Colin," Brandon said sternly, "did you even take this seriously?"

Colin felt wronged. "Brandon, I really did try! Of course, my first thought after discovering she hadn't used the family money since she was eighteen was to check her accounts. But aside from the family accounts, which are empty, I can't get into her encrypted personal accounts at all."

Sebastian was working late at the office when he got the call. He agreed and asked his assistant to have the finance department look into it.

Bella, overhearing that it was about Lillian, volunteered to handle the investigation herself.

"Fine, if you want to check, go ahead," Sebastian said, indifferent.

Bella hadn't planned on working late today. But the morning's incident at the preschool had caused the meeting with Litech NaLabs to be postponed. Nathan had refused to reschedule, insisting they find another time. This had thrown Bella's schedule into disarray, and she was in a foul mood. But Sebastian giving her access to the bank records so she could investigate Lillian immediately lifted her spirits. Now she could find out exactly what tangible benefits Lillian had received from her marriage to Sebastian. She would be able to see, in black and white, exactly how much money Lillian had gotten from the Blake family.

After finishing her work, Bella used Sebastian's connections to get a late-night meeting at the bank. As she walked into the building, her face was aglow with triumph. An hour later, however, when she emerged, her expression had completely changed. The senior bank manager who escorted her out was so intimidated he didn't dare say a word, simply holding her car door open in silence.

Behind the wheel, Bella slammed her foot on the accelerator, her anger so consuming she blew through two red lights without even noticing. Her hands were clamped around the steering wheel, gripping it as if it were Lillian's throat, refusing to let go.