Chapter 10 - The Man Behind the Transfers
The name appeared in an old corporate filing.
Damian Vale.
Former Sterling financial adviser.
He had worked with Arthur for twelve years.
After Arthur died, Damian disappeared from the company.
But he hadn't disappeared from the money.
He had quietly created three holding companies.
Each one received Sterling funds.
Each one eventually purchased property.
And each property was later transferred into accounts connected to Miranda.
Julian stared at the records.
“Why would my mother work with him?”
Valerie answered.
“Because he knew where the bodies were buried.”
Julian looked at her.
“Literally?”
“No.”
She paused.
“Financially.”
Damian had been laundering money through real estate.
Miranda wanted the mansion.
Julian wanted control of the company.
Damian wanted both.
He had helped them forge documents.
He had helped them move assets.
And he had secretly taken a percentage from every transaction.
But there was one problem.
Valerie had discovered something Damian hadn't.
Arthur had kept a backup ledger.
And Evelyn knew where it was.
Valerie and Julian drove to the coast.
They found Evelyn waiting.
She handed Valerie a small metal box.
Inside was the ledger.
Julian opened it.
His expression changed.
“Damian isn't the only one.”
Valerie leaned over.
Several payments had been made to another account.
The account belonged to Miranda.
But beside the payments were initials.
J.S.
Julian stepped back.
“That's me.”
“You didn't make those transfers.”
“I know.”
Valerie looked closer.
The initials were real.
But the signature beneath them wasn't.
Someone had forged Julian's authorization.
Again.
Then Evelyn spoke.
“Arthur suspected this.”
“What?”
“He believed someone was preparing to frame Julian.”
Valerie's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Evelyn looked at Julian.
“Because Arthur knew Damian wanted your position.”
Julian's face hardened.
“So he planned to blame me.”
“No,” Evelyn said.
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“He planned to make everyone think you were the thief.”
👉 And if Damian had been building a case against Julian for years, Valerie realized the final trap had already been set.
