Chapter 9
Marcia sat down.
Slowly.
The woman who had begun the night forcing Laurel onto her knees could no longer meet her eyes.
Anthony watched her.
No sympathy.
But recognition.
“What did Victor tell you about Laurel?”
Marcia’s breathing remained uneven.
“That she was pushing you to eliminate the traditional family funds.”
Laurel frowned.
“I argued the opposite.”
Marcia looked up.
Laurel continued.
“I told Anthony the new trust needed emergency distributions because three families were waiting.”
Anthony nodded.
That conversation had happened.
Victor’s eyes hardened.
Marcia looked toward him.
“You told me she called the old families parasites.”
Victor smiled without warmth.
“You wanted to believe it.”
Marcia flinched.
Because that was true too.
Her contempt for Laurel’s background had made the lie easy.
She had already decided Laurel was an opportunist.
Victor simply gave the prejudice paperwork.
Anthony looked toward the forensic specialist.
“Check every message Victor showed Marcia.”
They did.
Several came from Laurel’s compromised account.
Others were screenshots.
No source.
No verifiable chain.
Marcia's face changed with each result.
Her hatred had been real.
The evidence feeding it had not.
Then Anthony asked:
“Why tonight?”
Nobody answered.
He turned toward Victor.
“You had months.”
Victor remained silent.
Anthony stepped closer.
“What changed?”
Victor’s fingers tapped once against his knee.
Then stopped.
Laurel noticed.
“The audit.”
Victor’s eyes shifted toward her.
She continued.
“The museum board scheduled an external insurance audit for next week.”
Anthony turned.
Laurel nodded.
“I saw the notice yesterday.”
That was it.
Victor needed control before auditors examined the watches.
If Laurel was publicly discredited—
if Marcia pushed her out—
if Anthony defended Laurel and triggered a leadership crisis—
the audit could be delayed under claims of internal governance instability.
Anthony looked at the raised-hand relatives.
“You weren't buying a vote.”
Victor’s jaw tightened.
“You were buying chaos.”
No answer.
Anthony continued.
“You needed the gallery paralyzed.”
Victor’s breathing deepened.
“You needed Marcia blamed for the missing watches.”
Marcia stared at him.
“And Laurel blamed for forged approvals.”
Laurel’s face hardened.
Victor stood.
Bodyguards moved.
He smiled.
“You finally caught up.”
Then he looked at Anthony.
“But you're still missing the important part.”
Anthony’s eyes narrowed.
Victor’s voice became almost gentle.
“You think I was trying to survive an audit.”
A pause.
“I was trying to survive what happens after Marcia realizes whose money I really used.”
Marcia went completely still.
Anthony looked at her.
“What money?”
Her lips parted.
Nothing came out.
May you like
Victor smiled.
For the first time that night, Marcia looked more afraid of a secret than of Anthony.
