My Daughter-in-Law Destroyed My Vintage Wine Tower and Smirked, “Happy New Year! No Wine for You.” She Had No Idea What I Was About to Take Away From Her.

For three seconds, I couldn't speak.

The hotel security office seemed to shrink around me. Victor stood beside the computer. Andre was frozen near the door. Dashiell stared at my phone as though it had become a weapon.

And Harlow looked like someone had just opened a grave.

"Say that again," I whispered.

The man on the phone exhaled.

"Edward didn't die the way you were told.""

I gripped the edge of the table.

"Who are you?""

"Malcolm. Your husband's brother.""

"Malcolm Bellmont is dead.""

"That's what Edward wanted everyone to believe.""

I looked toward Andre.

He had heard enough to understand.

"Where are you?"" I asked.

"Outside the hotel. I have been waiting for the right moment to speak with you.""

"Why tonight?""

"Because Harlow has finally made her move. And because the documents she is looking for are about to disappear.""

I glanced at the security monitor.

The black SUV was still waiting outside the loading dock.

"Don't go anywhere," I said.

"I'm not going anywhere, Corinthia. I've waited three years.""

The call ended.

I lowered the phone.

Dashiell approached me.

"Mom, what did he say?""

I looked at my son.

"He says your father didn't die of a heart attack.""

Dashiell shook his head.

"No.""

"He says his brother is alive.""

"Uncle Malcolm?""

I nodded.

Dashiell sat down heavily.

"I thought Uncle Malcolm died before Dad.""

"So did I.""

Harlow suddenly moved toward the door.

Victor blocked her.

"Where do you think you're going?""

"Home.""

"Not yet.""

She laughed nervously.

"You can't detain me.""

"Nobody has said you're under arrest. But you are a person of interest in an ongoing investigation involving missing property and suspicious financial transactions.""

"You're treating me like a criminal!""

Victor glanced at the monitor.

"Then help us understand why someone is collecting a case under your name.""

Harlow's face tightened.

I stepped closer.

"What did you do to my husband?""

She looked at me.

"Nothing.""

"Then why did you look frightened when I mentioned Malcolm?""

"Because he's a liar!""

"How do you know?""

She didn't answer.

Andre quietly approached me.

"Mrs. Bellmont, there's something else I should tell you.""

"What?""

He lowered his voice.

"Three years ago, shortly before Mr. Edward died, he asked me to keep a sealed envelope in the cellar. He said it was insurance.""

"Insurance against what?""

"I never knew.""

"Where is it?""

Andre hesitated.

"In the wine case that was just taken downstairs.""

I turned toward the security monitor.

The two men at the loading dock were now speaking with Victor's deputy.

The wooden case sat between them.

"Can we stop them?""

Victor immediately picked up his radio.

"Secure the loading dock. Nobody leaves with that case.""

A moment later, the radio crackled.

"Copy. But, sir, there's a complication.""

Victor frowned.

"What complication?""

"The release authorization has been signed by the registered trustee.""

I looked at him.

"Who is the trustee?""

Victor opened the ownership records.

His eyes widened.

"Mrs. Bellmont...""

"What?""

"The registered trustee is Malcolm Bellmont.""

The office went silent.

Dashiell stood.

"Then he's here.""

Victor looked toward the security monitor.

"Apparently.""

We took the private elevator to the loading dock.

When the doors opened, a cold wind swept through the service entrance.

The two men were still standing beside the SUV.

One was tall and bald.

The other wore a dark overcoat and held a leather folder.

Between them sat the wooden wine case.

Then a third man stepped out of the shadows.

He was older, with silver hair, a narrow face, and a walking cane.

His eyes were unmistakable.

Edward's eyes.

"Corinthia," he said.

I stopped walking.

"Malcolm?""

He nodded.

"Hello, sister.""

I wanted to slap him.

I wanted to hug him.

Mostly, I wanted an explanation.

"You've been alive for three years?""

"Yes.""

"While I buried your brother?""

He lowered his head.

"I know.""

"While I sat in that house every night wondering why Edward had to die?""

His eyes filled.

"I know.""

"Then why didn't you come?""

He looked toward Harlow.

"Because the people responsible were watching you.""

Harlow stepped forward.

"Don't listen to him!""

Malcolm looked at her.

"You've done enough damage.""

She pointed at the wooden case.

"Give me that.""

Malcolm shook his head.

"You don't even know what's inside.""

"I know exactly what's inside.""

"No," he said.

"You know what you were paid to believe was inside.""

Harlow went pale.

Dashiell looked between them.

"Can somebody explain what is happening?""

Malcolm placed his hand on the wooden case.

"Your father discovered that someone was using the Meridian's reserve account to finance a private acquisition scheme. He traced the money to Northstar Hospitality.""

I looked at Harlow.

"And you?""

Malcolm nodded.

"She was working with them.""

Harlow shook her head.

"That's a lie.""

Malcolm opened his leather folder.

He removed a photograph and handed it to Victor.

It showed Harlow standing beside a man outside a private club.

The date was printed beneath the image.

Three months before her wedding to Dashiell.

I recognized the man.

He was the same man from the loading dock.

Malcolm pointed toward him.

"His name is Richard Voss. He's the director of Northstar.""

The bald man immediately stepped backward.

Victor raised his hand.

"Nobody moves.""

Malcolm continued.

"Edward discovered that Richard and Harlow intended to transfer the Meridian's ownership using forged authorization. He confronted them. A week later, he was dead.""

Dashiell looked sick.

"You're saying Harlow killed my father?""

Malcolm didn't answer immediately.

He opened the wooden case.

Inside were several folded documents, an old photograph, and a small audio recorder.

"Edward left evidence," he said.

"Evidence that could prove what happened.""

I looked at the recorder.

"Why didn't you give this to the police?""

Malcolm looked at me.

"Because the recording doesn't only implicate Harlow.""

He pressed a button.