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 34 He paused. “That was cruel enough. But it was not an order to buy drugs, to confine her, or to steal her money.” The prosecutor then submitted the bank originals, the property records for the shell companies, and the clinic payment records. Not
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 34 Read Post »
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 33 Across the aisle, I watched Derek. He sat in the witness box, his back perfectly straight. [Don’t flinch. You already let her bear this once.] [Say it clearly. Even if the Weston name goes down with it.] His lawyer started to stand, but
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 33 Read Post »
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 32 My lawyer said I didn’t have to attend the asset-freeze hearing. “This is only a pretrial proceeding. Rachel is trying to shift blame to Derek. It won’t directly affect the recovery of your funds.” I fastened the little fox ears on Maisie’s coat.
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 32 Read Post »
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 31 He crouched down to her level. “For me?” “For you.” Maisie placed the candy in his hand. “Mommy says you’ve been helping other sick kids. This is your reward.” Derek closed his hand around the small candy, his eyes reddening. “Can I give
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 31 Read Post »
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 30 After the court established paternity, he did not file the sole-custody petition he had prepared. Instead, a new parenting plan was approved: I retained full legal and medical decision-making authority, and Derek could have supervised visitation only at locations agreed upon by both
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 30 Read Post »
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 29 The room was silent for several seconds. A reporter asked, “Mr. Weston, will you be recovering the funds controlled by Ms. Lane?” “Yes. Every asset that belongs to Erin will be returned. Whether she accepts it is a matter for her and her
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 29 Read Post »
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 28 The day before the press conference, Derek’s lawyer sent my attorney a written request. He wanted to publicly correct the lies Rachel had spread and asked which facts I would consent to having disclosed. I only agreed to the facts already in court
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 28 Read Post »
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 27 Derek slid a payment record across the desk. “The car used to rent that clinic was registered to your shell company. You also purchased the drugs. You took Erin there, didn’t you?” Rachel opened her mouth, but no sound came out. A long
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 27 Read Post »
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 26 Derek turned the pages one by one. “And the allergy incident?” “We found inventory photos from the office kitchenette that day, and we contacted the ER doctor. The cashew paste under the drink lid was unmixed, and Rachel had residue on her thumb.
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 26 Read Post »
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 25 Margaret hadn’t expected me to agree so quickly. Derek didn’t find out until half an hour later. By the time he rushed to the hospital, the DNA samples had already been collected. Rachel stepped forward, but before she could speak, he demanded, “Who
He Accused Me Of Stealing But I Heard The Truth Chapter 25 Read Post »
