Chapter 6 - THE CRIME COMMITTED IN MY NAME
“Blame me for what?”
My mother's fingers tightened around the assignment sheet.
“For the missing foundation money.”
I stared at her.
“I have thirty-eight dollars in my checking account.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
“Then how could anybody blame me for millions of dollars?”
Julian answered before she could.
“Identity theft is a serious offense, Miss Bennett. I'd be careful about making accusations.”
The way he said it made something click.
He wasn't merely warning me.
He was preparing the explanation he'd give when everything collapsed.
Alexander turned toward him.
“Where are the original financial records?”
“At the foundation office.”
“Have them brought here.”
“Alexander, we're in the middle of a security incident.”
“Then stop making it worse.”
Julian studied him.
“You're allowing grief to compromise your judgment.”
Alexander didn't raise his voice.
“My grief is not your authority.”
For a moment, I thought Julian might actually obey.
Then the wedding screen changed.
A photograph of me appeared.
It had been taken that morning while I was entering the mansion in my catering uniform.
Beside it was a bank account summary.
CLAIRE BENNETT.
AUTHORIZED RECEIVING OFFICER.
Several large transfers were listed underneath.
One was dated September 2025.
I had been working double shifts at a diner that month.
Another was dated February 2026.
I'd spent that entire week helping my mother recover from pneumonia.
The largest entry was just over four million dollars.
I felt sick.
“That's not my signature.”
Julian looked toward the screen.
“How unfortunate.”
I turned on him.
“You prepared that.”
“You seem to have quite a talent for appearing in places where financial irregularities arise.”
A few wedding guests started whispering.
I suddenly understood the plan.
If the records became public, my name would be attached to the missing money.
And if I tried to defend myself, Julian could point to my resemblance to Eleanor and accuse me of pretending to be Alexander's dead wife.
I was never supposed to leave this wedding with answers.
I was supposed to leave carrying someone else's guilt.
Rosa approached a young man wearing a headset near the ballroom doors.
“Daniel, show her the rest.”
The young technician hesitated.
Julian turned sharply.
“Don't.”
Daniel swallowed.
Then he opened a tablet.
“This is the original presentation schedule,” he told Alexander. “A second file was supposed to play after the wedding ceremony.”
He showed us the title.
FOUNDATION FRAUD: SUSPECT IDENTIFIED.
Beneath it was my name.
I couldn't breathe.
Rosa placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I saw the file yesterday. That's why I contacted Margaret.”
Alexander looked at Julian.
“You planned to accuse her publicly?”
Julian lifted his chin.
“I planned to protect the foundation from an obvious fraud.”
“Before investigating her?”
“Before allowing a scandal to destroy everything your father built.”
Alexander's jaw tightened.
“My father has been dead for twelve years.”
“And his empire survives because some of us understand sacrifice.”
I looked down at Oliver.
He had fallen asleep.
This little boy knew nothing about forged signatures, missing money, or men who called cruelty sacrifice.
He only knew he felt safe when someone held him.
“Why me?” I asked Julian.
His eyes narrowed.
“Because the past has a habit of returning when nobody invites it.”
My mother stepped forward.
“You've spent twenty-six years punishing my daughters for a mistake you made.”
Julian laughed softly.
“You accepted the foundation's assistance, Margaret.”
“I accepted help for my babies. I never agreed to lose one.”
For the first time, he looked genuinely angry.
Alexander turned to Elias.
“Get the foundation records secured. Nobody removes a page.”
“Yes, sir.”
Elias left with Rosa.
Victoria approached me.
“Claire, there's something else.”
I almost couldn't bear another revelation.
“What?”
She handed me a folded staff list.
One name had been added by hand that afternoon.
ANNE WARD — SPECIAL EVENT KITCHEN STAFF.
I stared at it.
The name from Oliver's hospital records.
Victoria's voice trembled.
“Eleanor knew this wedding might be her last chance to retrieve the original records.”
I looked toward the kitchen doors.
“Are you saying she's here?”
Victoria nodded.
“She entered with the evening catering crew.”
I could hear my own heartbeat.
“Where is she now?”
Victoria looked over her shoulder.
“I don't know.”
Then an elderly woman in a chef's jacket appeared in the service doorway.
She stared at me.
“Are you Claire Bennett?”
“Yes.”
May you like
The woman glanced at Julian.
“Come quickly,” she whispered. “Your sister is waiting.”
