The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 260

I let the silence linger for a few seconds, then turned back toward Mr. Hale.

“Mr. Hale, you said the fifty million dollars was intended as a settlement payment.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know who authorized that payment?”

“Mr. Dhark.”

My chest tightened. “And these documents prove the payment was never made to me?”

“No.”

“So where did they go?”

He referred to his documents. “Through a series of accounts controlled by entities associated with Ms. Sterling.”

I nodded slowly, then turned toward the evidence screen.

The transaction trail appeared again.

One account, then another, then another.

Until eventually— Eva.

I pointed to the screen.

“Is this the final destination of the fifty million dollars?”

“Not all of it.”

“Explain.”

“Some of the money was distributed across several accounts and investments. But we were able to trace the majority of the funds back to entities and accounts benefiting Ms. Sterling.”

“And the assistant?”

“It appears received a percentage as well.” Mr. Hale answered.

Of course he did. Greed had been the thread connecting everyone.

I walked slowly back toward my table. “Mr. Hale, based on your investigation, were these transfers accidental?”

“No, not at all.”

“Were they isolated accounting errors?”

“No.”

“Were they unrelated transactions?”

“No.”

I stopped walking. “What were they?”

He looked directly at the jury— obviously he was no stranger to court cases.

“A coordinated pattern of financial transfers.” He answered.

I returned to the lectern. “Would you describe that pattern as consistent with unauthorized appropriation of funds?”

“Yes.”

“And did the evidence indicate that Ms. Sterling knew the money was being taken?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Through the communications, transaction timing, instructions to the assistant, and the subsequent use of the funds.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

I turned toward the evidence table.

“Your Honor, I’d like to submit the complete financial tracing report as Exhibit Fifty-Five.”

The judge reviewed the documents. “Admitted.”

The jurors too, received copies.

I could almost see the realization spreading across their faces.

This wasn’t one crime. It wasn’t one lie or one terrible decision.

It was a pattern— a pattern that stretched across several months.

I looked at Eva again.

Her attorney was leaning toward her, whispering urgently.

She shook her head.

He said something else.

This time she snapped back at him, just like the Eva I know.

I couldn’t hear the words, but I could read the expression.

Panic.

I turned back to Mr. Hale. “There is something else I’d like to clarify.”

“Yes?”

“You testified that several of the transfers were disguised as legitimate business expenses.”

“Correct.”

“Did you find evidence showing that Ms. Sterling personally instructed anyone to disguise those payments?”

“Yes.”

My pulse quickened. “Who?”

“Mr. Theo Bennett.”

“How?”

“He received instructions through text messages and calls.”

“Did you examine those communications?”

“Yes.”

“Did they correspond with the financial records?”

“Almost perfectly.”

I picked up another document.

“This message was sent three days before a transfer of five million dollars?”

“Yes.”

“And this message was followed by the transfer?”

“Yes.”

“What did it say?”

Mr. Hale glanced at the paper.

“‘Use the company account. He won’t question it if it’s classified as an acquisition expense.’”

A few people in the gallery reacted.

The judge raised his gavel. “Order.”

I didn’t look at Eva.

I didn’t need to.

I could hear her breathing from where I stood.

Or perhaps I was imagining it.

I continued.

“Mr. Hale, did you find any evidence that Mr. Dhark knew about these transactions while they were occurring?”

“None other than the fact that he ordered his assistant to make the last transfer.”

“Did he authorize these other transfers?”

“No.”

“Did he personally benefit from them?”

“Not at all.”

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