Chapter 6
Rocco wanted to remove Bernice from the estate immediately.
Daniel advised him not to make every decision while furious.
Rocco hated that advice.
He followed it.
Bernice’s access to foundation finances was suspended.
Laine’s too.
Ralph voluntarily surrendered his old administrative credentials until the audit was complete.
For the first time in years, his father did something without arguing about authority.
Then Ralph asked to speak with Rocco alone.
“I knew she was helping Laine.”
Rocco stared at him.
“How much did you know?”
“Not this.”
“That isn't an answer.”
Ralph sat heavily.
Months earlier, Bernice told him Laine had significant debt after her restaurant project collapsed.
Credit cards.
Private loans.
A commercial lease guarantee.
Ralph wanted to help.
Bernice told him she had arranged temporary advances from family accounts.
“I thought she meant ours.”
“Did you ask?”
“No.”
Rocco leaned back.
“Why?”
Ralph looked embarrassed.
“Because I didn't want to know how much.”
That answer told Rocco something about his father too.
Ralph had not stolen the scholarship funds.
He had chosen comfortable ignorance.
Bernice needed that.
Whenever she said Laine needed help, Ralph approved the idea without demanding details.
When questionable paperwork appeared, Bernice used his electronic credentials.
Sometimes with passwords he had willingly given her years earlier.
Other times through a tablet where his account remained logged in.
Ralph looked toward the door.
“She told me Mia was lying.”
“And you believed her.”
“Yes.”
“She hadn't eaten for three days.”
Ralph's face tightened.
“I didn't know that.”
Rocco stood.
“You were at the arena.”
“I thought she was refusing meals.”
“Did you check?”
Ralph said nothing.
“You grabbed her after she told me.”
Ralph looked ashamed.
“I panicked.”
“About what?”
“I thought she was going to say something that would send your mother to prison.”
Rocco stared at him.
There it was.
May you like
Ralph might not have designed the fraud.
He had still chosen Bernice when Mia needed an adult to choose her.
