Chapter 7: My Husband's Final Recording
Nobody spoke.
Dashiell stood beneath the fluorescent loading dock lights, his face drained of color.
"That's not what I meant," he whispered.
Malcolm closed the wooden case.
"Then explain what you meant.""
Dashiell looked at me.
"Mom, I never wanted Dad hurt.""
I swallowed.
"Did you know about the money?""
"No.""
"Did you know about Northstar?""
He hesitated.
"Not at first.""
Harlow immediately stepped between us.
"Don't answer him.""
Dashiell turned toward her.
"Why?""
"Because he's manipulating you.""
Malcolm gave a tired laugh.
"After everything you've done, you're still trying to control the conversation?""
Harlow pointed at him.
"You disappeared. You have no idea what happened here.""
"I know enough.""
Victor stepped forward.
"Mr. Bellmont, we need to take everyone to a secure room and preserve this recording.""
Malcolm nodded.
"Agreed.""
Richard Voss suddenly moved toward the SUV.
Victor's deputy intercepted him.
"Sir, stop.""
Richard pushed the man.
"Get out of my way!""
Victor reached for his arm.
A brief struggle followed.
Then Richard was against the vehicle with his hands secured behind him.
Harlow looked toward the street.
For one moment, I thought she might run.
Instead, she turned to Dashiell.
"Tell them what your father promised you.""
Dashiell stared at her.
"What?""
"Tell them about the inheritance.""
I looked at my son.
"What inheritance?""
He rubbed his face.
"After Dad died, I found a letter in his office. He said I would eventually receive a controlling interest in the hotel.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because the letter said the transfer depended on certain conditions.""
"What conditions?""
He looked at Malcolm.
"That I demonstrate I could manage the company independently.""
Malcolm nodded.
"That's correct.""
Dashiell's voice cracked.
"I thought you were trying to keep everything from me.""
"Your father wanted you to earn the responsibility.""
"And you let me believe he had chosen you instead!""
Malcolm's expression softened.
"Your father loved you, Dashiell. But he knew you were vulnerable to people who promised you success without asking you to work for it.""
Dashiell looked at Harlow.
She crossed her arms.
"Don't look at me.""
I stepped forward.
"Enough. Play the recording.""
Malcolm hesitated.
"Are you sure?""
"Edward left it for me. I want to hear it.""
He pressed the button again.
My husband's voice filled the loading dock.
Corinthia, if Malcolm has finally brought this to you, then I am sorry. I wanted to explain everything myself.
My knees weakened.
Andre brought over a chair.
I sat.
The recording continued.
I discovered that Richard Voss had been moving money through Northstar. At first, I believed it was an ordinary investment arrangement. Then I found unauthorized transfers.
A pause.
Dashiell introduced me to Harlow. He said she was ambitious, intelligent, and capable of helping him understand the hospitality business. I wanted to believe him.
I closed my eyes.
Edward continued.
But Harlow was already connected to Voss. They had been discussing the Meridian long before she married our son.
Harlow shook her head.
"That's fabricated.""
Malcolm ignored her.
The recording continued.
I confronted Voss. He threatened to destroy everything I had built. I told him he would have to go through me.
There was a long silence.
Then Edward spoke again.
Three days later, I received a phone call from Dashiell. He said he needed access to the private records. He told me it was for a routine audit.
Dashiell covered his mouth.
"I didn't know what they were doing.""
The recording continued.
I refused. That night, someone entered my study.
A faint rustling sound followed.
Then Edward's voice became quieter.
I found the original transfer documents missing. I also found evidence that someone had copied my medical records.
I felt the blood leave my face.
Edward continued.
If I die unexpectedly, I want Corinthia to know that I never authorized the sale of the Meridian. I want her to know that my signature was forged.
The recording stopped.
I looked at Malcolm.
"How did Edward die?""
Malcolm stared at the floor.
"He was poisoned.""
The words struck harder than I expected.
"What?""
"His medication was tampered with. The hospital believed the resulting cardiac event was caused by his existing condition.""
I shook my head.
"Who did it?""
Malcolm glanced toward Harlow.
She began crying.
Not the loud, theatrical crying I had seen on the terrace.
This time, she seemed genuinely terrified.
"Richard arranged it," Malcolm said.
"Harlow supplied the information about Edward's medication schedule.""
Dashiell turned toward her.
"You knew?""
Harlow wiped her cheeks.
"I didn't know he would die!""
Malcolm stepped forward.
"But you knew they were planning to stop him.""
She shook her head.
"I thought they were going to scare him.""
I felt my hands trembling.
"You let me bury my husband.""
Harlow looked at me.
"I didn't mean for it to happen.""
I rose slowly.
"Do you know what I did after Edward died?""
She said nothing.
"I slept on his side of the bed for six months because I couldn't bear to move his pillow. I kept his reading glasses on the nightstand. I cooked enough food for two people before remembering he wasn't coming home.""
My voice broke.
"And you knew?""
Harlow lowered her eyes.
I stepped closer.
"You sat at my table. You called me Mother. You watched me cry over him.""
"I was scared.""
"You were comfortable.""
She began sobbing.
"I didn't know what to do.""
"You could have told the truth.""
Malcolm placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Corinthia, there's one more thing.""
I turned.
"What?""
He pointed toward the recorder.
"Edward made a second recording. It's about the person who helped Harlow access the company accounts.""
Dashiell looked up.
"Who?""
Malcolm pressed another button.
A voice emerged.
A woman's voice.
Not Harlow's.
Not mine.
It belonged to Evelyn Price, the company's former chief financial officer.
I have transferred the funds as requested. But I need to know when the Bellmont family will be informed.
A man's voice replied.
They won't be. By the time they discover anything, the ownership will already belong to us.
Then came a sentence that made my stomach turn.
And Dashiell?
The man laughed.
He'll take the blame. That's why we need his signature.
Dashiell looked at Malcolm.
"Who was that man?""
Malcolm stopped the recording.
"Richard Voss.""
Victor immediately looked toward the SUV.
Richard was already being escorted away.
But before he disappeared through the security doors, he turned and shouted something.
"You're too late, Bellmont! The original trust was revoked yesterday!""
Malcolm went completely still.
I turned toward him.
"What does that mean?""
He looked at me.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"It means somebody has already claimed ownership of the Meridian.""
