2026-01-02 00:05:00The next three weeks blurred together in a whirlwind of legal paperwork, due diligence meetings, and contract negotiations.
CloudTech's attorneys were thorough but fair. They wanted to close the deal before TechFlow Solutions could create more problems.Patricia Wong personally oversaw the transaction. Her team moved with speed.The final sale price came in higher than the original offer. CloudTech reviewed LedgerEase's growth trajectory and increased the valuation to twelve point eight million dollars.Damien sat in Richard's office staring at the number on the screen. It did not feel real."After all legal fees, taxes, and splitting with Marcus, you will net approximately four point one million," Richard explained.Marcus would get the same amount. This was life-changing money.Damien signed the final documents with a hand that shook slightly. Marcus signed right after him.They shook hands across the table. N
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CHAPTER 87
Damien spent the next three days in his apartment going through boxes of his mother's old papers. He was searching for answers that might explain why she had done what she did.The boxes smelled like dust and old perfume. Each document he touched felt like he was reaching back through time to a woman he thought he knew.Bank statements from 2008 showed their account balance dropping month by month. Medical bills from neurologists and specialists piled up in neat folders his mother had labeled carefully.There were letters from collection agencies, past due notices from the mortgage company, and credit card statements with minimum payments circled in red pen.His mother had been organized even in her desperation. Everything was filed, dated, and sorted.On the fourth day, Damien found something different. A leather-bound journal was tucked beneath a stack of medical records from his father's Alzheimer's diagnosis.The cover was wo
CHAPTER 86
Richard's handwriting expert arrived at the office three days after the Philadelphia meeting. Dr. Helen Martinez was a woman in her sixties with brown hair and reading glasses hanging from a chain around her neck.She spread the insurance documents across Richard's conference table like a surgeon preparing for an operation. Damien watched her work with a magnifying glass and measurement tools."The signature on the beneficiary change form shows several irregularities," Dr. Martinez began. She pointed to the capital W in William's name. "Notice how the loop here is too wide compared to authenticated samples from the same period."Damien leaned closer. The difference was subtle but once she pointed it out, he could not unsee it."The pressure is also inconsistent. Your father's authentic signatures show steady pressure throughout. This signature has hesitation marks."Dr. Martinez pulled out three other documents with William's verified signature from 2008. Bank statements and medical
CHAPTER 85
Richard stared at the threatening text message on Damien's phone. His expression hardened but his voice stayed calm."This changes everything. Screenshot that message and forward it to me immediately."Damien's hands shook as he followed the instructions. "They are threatening my daughter.""Which means they are desperate or stupid. Either way, we can use this."Richard called his investigator and explained the situation. Within minutes, arrangements were made to increase security around Emma's school."But I think we need to meet Ashley face to face," Richard said after hanging up. "We need to understand what she really wants.""After that text message? She just threatened Emma.""That text might not have come from her. Gerald Hutchinson has a reputation for dirty tactics but threatening children crosses a line even for him."Damien wanted to argue but Richard's logic made sense. "So what do you suggest?"<
CHAPTER 84
Damien stood frozen in Simone's kitchen with the phone pressed against his ear. His mind struggled to process what Sandra Morrison had just said.His father never mentioned a first wife. As far as Damien knew, his father married his mother young, had Damien, and that was it."I am sorry, can you repeat that?" Damien's voice sounded distant to his own ears.Sandra Morrison's tone was patient. "Your father, William Webb, was briefly married in his early twenties to a woman named Catherine Webb.""That is impossible. My mother was his only wife.""I understand this is shocking but I have the marriage certificate and divorce decree. They married when William was twenty-three years old."Damien leaned against the counter. Simone moved closer and placed a hand on his shoulder."They had a daughter named Ashley before divorcing. William paid child support but had minimal contact with her."A daughter. His father had an
CHAPTER 83
The next three weeks blurred together in a whirlwind of legal paperwork, due diligence meetings, and contract negotiations.CloudTech's attorneys were thorough but fair. They wanted to close the deal before TechFlow Solutions could create more problems.Patricia Wong personally oversaw the transaction. Her team moved with speed.The final sale price came in higher than the original offer. CloudTech reviewed LedgerEase's growth trajectory and increased the valuation to twelve point eight million dollars.Damien sat in Richard's office staring at the number on the screen. It did not feel real."After all legal fees, taxes, and splitting with Marcus, you will net approximately four point one million," Richard explained.Marcus would get the same amount. This was life-changing money.Damien signed the final documents with a hand that shook slightly. Marcus signed right after him.They shook hands across the table. N
CHAPTER 82
Damien ran through the school parking lot with Marcus right behind him. His heart pounded against his ribs.Principal Anderson met them at the entrance. Her face was serious but not angry."Mr. Webb, thank you for coming so quickly.""What happened? Is Emma hurt?""She is not hurt but there was a physical altercation. Emma pushed another student."Damien felt the world tilt. Emma had never been violent. Never."She pushed someone? That does not sound like her."Principal Anderson led them to her office. Emma sat in a chair by the window staring at her hands."Emma has been increasingly withdrawn and irritable over the past few weeks. Her teachers have noticed. Today it came to a head.""What triggered it?""A classmate made a joke about Emma's famous daddy. He was referencing the viral articles about your custody case."The words hit Damien like ice water. The media attention. The public spectacle of their private pain."What exactly did the boy say?""He asked if Emma's dad was going
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