Chapter 10 - The Last Kessler
Three days later, I returned to Dallas.
The city looked different.
Or maybe I did.
The Kessler headquarters had become a battlefield.
The stock price had collapsed.
Three executives had resigned.
Federal investigators had seized records.
Victor Hale was awaiting trial.
Charles Kessler had disappeared.
And Reid?
He had requested a meeting.
I agreed.
Not because I wanted him back.
Because I wanted the truth.
He was waiting in the old boardroom.
Alone.
He looked older.
Smaller.
The confidence was gone.
“Audrey.”
I sat across from him.
“Talk.”
He placed a folder on the table.
“Everything is here.”
I opened it.
Bank transfers.
Emails.
Messages.
Recordings.
Evidence against Charles.
Evidence against Victor.
Evidence against Tessa.
And evidence against himself.
“You kept copies.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“In case they turned on me.”
I looked at him.
“They did.”
He lowered his head.
“I know.”
“Did you love me?”
His eyes closed.
“Yes.”
The answer surprised me.
I didn't believe him.
But I wanted to.
“Then why?”
“Because I was weak.”
He looked at me.
“I wanted your company.”
“You wanted Bellamy Holdings.”
“Yes.”
“You married me for it.”
“At first.”
I felt something crack inside me.
“At first?”
He nodded.
“Then I fell in love with you.”
I looked away.
“I don't know whether I believe that.”
“You don't have to.”
He slid another document toward me.
“What is this?”
“Your divorce settlement.”
I stared at him.
“I don't want your money.”
“This isn't my money.”
He pushed it closer.
“It's yours.”
The document transferred every Bellamy-related asset he had acquired.
Every property.
Every investment.
Every dollar.
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because you were right.”
“About what?”
“You weren't a woman I could buy.”
I stood.
“Goodbye, Reid.”
He looked at me.
“Audrey.”
I stopped.
“I never stopped loving you.”
I didn't turn around.
“That's the problem.”
I walked out.
Outside, reporters were waiting.
Cameras flashed.
Microphones appeared.
One reporter shouted:
“Ms. Bellamy! Are you taking over Kessler Strategic?”
I stopped.
Another shouted:
“Is Reid Kessler going to prison?”
I turned toward the cameras.
“I have no comment on pending investigations.”
“What happens to the company?”
I looked at the building.
Then at the reporters.
“Bellamy Holdings will acquire Kessler Strategic's healthy assets.”
The crowd erupted.
“What about the Kessler name?”
I smiled.
“It ends today.”
I walked toward the waiting car.
My phone rang.
Nolan.
“Yes?”
“Miss Bellamy.”
His voice sounded strange.
“What happened?”
“We found Charles.”
“Where?”
“Boston.”
I stopped.
“Is he arrested?”
“No.”
“What do you mean?”
“He went to your father's estate.”
My blood ran cold.
“Why?”
Nolan hesitated.
“He has your mother’s original evidence.”
I closed my eyes.
The war wasn't over.
Not even close.
I turned toward my father, who was standing beside the car.
“Dad.”
He looked at me.
“What?”
“Charles is coming.”
My father understood immediately.
He reached for my hand.
And for the first time since I was a child, I didn't pull away.
We stood together.
Waiting.
Because Charles Kessler had spent twenty years believing he could bury the Bellamy family.
He had forgotten one thing.
Some families inherit money.
Others inherit power.
But the Bellamys?
May you like
We inherited unfinished wars.
And this one was finally coming home.
