Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 48

After much deliberation, Bella decided she absolutely could not tell Sebastian the truth. Lillian had helped him build his company from the ground up, had successfully married him, and yet, in all that time, she had never spent a single penny of Sebastian's money.

Bella had meticulously reviewed the household account Sebastian provided; every expense had been for Noah. Not only had Lillian not used the household funds for herself, but she also hadn't touched a cent of her company dividends or the profits from her shares. It was all just sitting in an account. The card for that account, along with the Mercer family's money and shares, had been returned to the Blake family a few days ago and was now in Sebastian's possession.

Bella gave Sebastian a vague, non-committal answer and drove directly to the hospital. With Sabrina admitted, most of the Mercer family had set up a vigil there, camping out in the VIP suite, which had plenty of rooms and beds.

They all knew Bella had gone to investigate Lillian's finances that evening, so when she returned, they were gathered together, eagerly awaiting the news.

Before entering the room, Bella took a moment to compose herself. The bank manager's final words echoed in her mind: "I'm sorry, Miss Ward, but we do not have the authorization to access Ms. Mercer's encrypted personal accounts."

The memory alone was enough to make her blood boil. She simply couldn't believe that Sebastian's connections and security clearance weren't enough to access Lillian's accounts. Why? Who the hell did Lillian think she was? She was nothing but a useless woman who had only managed to live a comfortable life by being born into one wealthy family and marrying into an even wealthier one.

The Blake family could investigate the Mercer family in an instant, so why was it that when it came to investigating one woman, Lillian, they suddenly lacked authorization? But in front of the Mercer family, Bella couldn't let them know this. She couldn't allow them to entertain even the slightest suspicion that Lillian might possess some special ability they were unaware of.

So, after entering, she turned the tables and asked first, "What did you find out on your end?"

Colin, always the first to speak, piped up, "I went to check myself. It's true, Lillian hasn't used any of the family's money since she turned eighteen. The card she returned was untouched, and so were the company dividends. And the craziest part is, when I went to the bank to inquire about her accounts, they told me I didn't have the clearance to view them."

Bella was still taken aback by the news that Lillian hadn't spent any Mercer money after turning eighteen. After all, she knew that a pampered heiress like Lillian had expensive tastes and lived a life of luxury. She had once been in Lillian's old room at the Mercer estate, and the closets and jewelry boxes were overflowing with luxury handbags and jewels, many of them limited-edition pieces that had once been beyond even Bella's wildest dreams. Of course, now, such things were trifles she could acquire with a snap of her fingers.

But Colin's words—'no clearance'—once again struck a raw nerve. Still, she couldn't help but ask, "She didn't spend any of the Mercer family's money?"

"We've checked. None," Martin confirmed. "Bella, what did you find out on your end?"

"That's the mystery, Mom," Bella said. "I haven't told them about this yet. Please keep it a secret for now. I'll figure it out and then decide what to do."

"What about Sebastian? You're not going to tell him either?"

"He's so busy. He doesn't need to know everything."

Sabrina knew her daughter was smart, so she didn't press the issue. For years, Bella had succeeded at everything she put her mind to. She was strong-willed and knew what she was doing. So, Sabrina didn't question her decision.

Later, Bella gave Sebastian the same artfully vague answer. Sebastian had already done a cursory check of Lillian's spending himself. So when Bella confirmed his suspicions, he naturally assumed that if Lillian wasn't spending much of his money, she must be living off the Mercer family's fortune. After that, he didn't give the matter another thought.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the one person who could easily access Lillian's accounts sat casually on a sofa, his gaze fixed on the city lights twinkling outside the floor-to-ceiling window of his hospital room. His long fingers tapped lightly on the table beside him as he listened to a report over the phone. When it was finished, he responded with a cold, clipped, "Mm, I know."