“She is his child.”
For the first time, Lorraine raised her voice.
“Your father lied to me for years. He paid that woman to stay silent. While I protected his reputation and built his companies, he created secret accounts.”
I looked at her.
For the first time, I saw pain beneath the pride.
“You were angry with him,” I said.
She turned sharply toward me.
“This doesn’t concern you.”
“You couldn’t punish him after he died, so you punished his daughter.”
Lorraine stood.
“Then explain it.”
“Camille grew up with a mother who accepted money from a married man.”
“And Ethan grew up believing money determined everyone’s worth.”
Her face lost its color.
Ethan closed the folder.
She said nothing.
“He couldn’t speak after the stroke.”
“He had lucid moments.”
“He couldn’t even sign his own name.”
“He approved it earlier.”
Lorraine looked toward the windows.
Ethan spoke quietly.
“Mom.”
That single word carried more sadness than anger.
“Did you forge this?”
The answer was yes.
