When I was five months pregnant, Derek Weston sent his beautiful personal assistant to me with an envelope of cash. There wasn’t even enough to cover a consultation at a legitimate clinic. She told me Derek thought the pregnancy was affecting our intimacy, and that I should take the money and get rid of the baby.
I fled Chicago.
Six years later, Derek donated enough to a children and family aid center to build a new housing wing and fund its operations for years. My daughter and I were living there through its work-housing program; I was temping in the cafeteria. The program didn’t cover meals.
Maisie was trembling with hunger, her small hand reaching for half a grilled cheese sandwich someone had left on a tray.
I blinked hard and caught her hand.
“Just wait a little longer, baby. Mommy will buy you some bread after work.”
Someone behind me called my name.
“Erin Collins?”
I turned.
Derek stood a few steps away, looking down at me, his expression devoid of warmth.
And then, all at once, a voice flooded my mind.
[She’s alive. She’s really alive. That child is mine, isn’t she?]
[Why are they dressed like this? Why is my daughter picking through other people’s leftovers?]
I stared at Derek’s cold face, certain I was hallucinating.
He looked at me, his jaw clenched.
“Why are you here? What happened to the money I sent you?”
His voice was ice, but the thoughts crashing through his head were chaotic.
[Did she give it all to that painter?]
[I want to hold her. I can’t. She’ll push me away. Damn it, what am I even supposed to say?]
Maisie clutched my leg, peeking out from behind me.
“Mommy, is he the bad daddy who gave you one thin envelope and didn’t want us anymore?”
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 44 “I only used the signature on paperwork she should have signed anyway.” Her own lawyer closed his eyes. The prosecutor waited two beats. “So you admit it was you who copied her signature from the clinic documents onto the acknowledgment of relocation funds?”
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 43 “I acted like a man who would do that,” he said. “I handed her money and instructions, and I gave her far too much authority. Those are my faults.” Hope flickered in Rachel’s eyes. “But,” Derek continued, “I did not tell her to
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 42 That note was later sealed under an authorization that originated from Derek’s office. The illegal clinic payment records, the drug purchase orders, and the vehicle registration were then shown on the screen. The vehicle belonged to Rachel’s shell company. The buyer of the
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 41 On the first day of the criminal trial, Rachel walked past me in the corridor. She wasn’t crying this time. “When they hear what Derek said back then, you’ll understand I’m not the only one who hurt you.” “I already know that.” I
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 40 “Did she ever find any evidence that Erin had concealed income?” “No.” “Did she have the authority to convert Mr. Weston’s private payment into a foundation review?” Nicole lowered her head. “No. She used her office authorization.” Mia also gave my lawyer the
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 39 Not just similar. Identical. Even the tiny ink blot from where my hand had shaken in the clinic was in the exact same place. Six years ago, Rachel had made me sign what she called anesthesia and privacy forms. That paper was later
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 38 The document spread like wildfire online. People screenshotted the signature and the amount, claiming I had taken the money six years ago and was only back because it wasn’t enough. Maisie’s teacher called me during her lunch break. “Some of the children saw
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 37 Margaret turned to him. “That agreement protects the company, and it protects the child.” Derek took the copy from her hands. He flipped directly to the confidentiality clause, his face darkening with every line he read. “Withdraw it.” “You’ve already been suspended. This
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 36 She stood in the doorway and said, “But if this continues to be public, it may not be good for Maisie. When she goes to school and makes friends, people will search for this story.” “The people who hurt her should worry about
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He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 35 The agreement was eighty-seven pages long. The first twenty were a dense thicket of legalese explaining how this did not constitute an admission of liability. The clauses that followed stipulated that I could never again speak about Weston Group’s financial systems, foundation procedures,
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