Chapter 12 - Victor Hale
Victor arrived at the legal office with a confident smile.
He was in his early sixties.
Expensive suit.
Silver hair.
Perfect manners.
He greeted Julian as though nothing had happened.
Then he saw Julian's wife.
His smile faded.
“I believe we've met.”
“Yes.”
She remembered him.
He had attended their wedding.
He had congratulated Julian.
He had once told her:
“You married a very ambitious man.”
Now she understood the warning hidden inside that sentence.
Victor sat down.
“What exactly is the accusation?”
Her attorney placed the documents in front of him.
Victor looked at them.
Then laughed.
“These transfers were legitimate.”
“Some were.”
“And the others?”
“Fraudulent.”
Victor shook his head.
“You cannot blame me because Julian made poor decisions.”
Julian looked at him.
“You told me the trust was under my control.”
Victor sighed.
“I told you what you believed.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“It isn't.”
His wife looked at him.
“Did you know the mansion belonged to my family trust?”
Victor paused.
“Yes.”
“Did you know Julian didn't?”
“Yes.”
Julian stared at him.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Victor looked at him.
“Because you never asked.”
Julian's face hardened.
“You knew.”
“I knew.”
“And you let me believe it.”
Victor leaned back.
“You wanted to believe it.”
The room went silent.
That sentence cut deeper than Julian expected.
Victor continued.
“You wanted to be the man who owned everything.”
Julian looked down.
Victor's attorney interrupted.
“My client has nothing further to say.”
Her lawyer smiled.
“He won't need to.”
She pushed forward a final document.
Victor's signature appeared on a transfer authorization.
He had personally approved one of the fraudulent accounts.
May you like
Victor's smile disappeared.
👉 Victor had counted on Julian's arrogance to protect him—but one signature had finally placed Victor directly inside the financial scheme.
