Page 4 of Beautiful Lies

We knew about other loans and the mortgage arrears, but this is on a whole other level of bad.

And where the hell are we supposed to find a hundred thousand dollars to give Knox Vale?

But wait…there's more. We haven't started talking about the financial misconduct yet.

"Tell me about the misconduct. Now," I rattle out. "We can't be held responsible for that."

"This is a special case," Knox answers, looking far too pleased to deliver the blow. "One where every court of law on this planet would side with me."

"What makes it so special?" Mom speaks up.

"Evidence, Mrs. Monroe." Knox straightens and glares at us. "Eight years ago, my family's company got caught up in one of the biggest wire fraud and embezzlement scandals ofthis century. It almost ruined us. The only reason we survived was because the link to us was weak. Days ago, new evidence surfaced. Evidence proving it was your husband who fucked us over."

For a moment, I can't breathe. Neither can Mom.

Knox's gaze cuts to mine, and I swear the air shifts. "Five million dollars in investment funds were gone just like that. John used some elaborate hacking system so no one could detect him and moved the money to a private account under a shell company."

Mom's hand flies to her chest. "That can't be true. John would never?—"

"He did, Greta," William interrupts gently, his expression tight with regret. "We've reviewed the records. The transactions were confirmed."

“But millions? Dad stolemillions?” I choke out.

“He did. It seems he was hired to steal the money by people he had no business knowing. He also kept some to set up his own business and pay off debts.”

The room tilts. My head spins. I'm going to throw up.

God, I remember the scandal. Dad, like many others, left Vale Global because of it—they didn’t want to taint their good names. Back then, my father’s reputation carried real weight. When he set up his own firm, he had no trouble attracting high-end clients.

Then something happened, and he lost it all within two years. It made no sense, and there was never a solid explanation.

The years that followed dragged him deeper into debt, even after he managed to secure another job.

Hearing about his deep, dark secrets and association withhighly questionable peopleexplains a lot. God, everything makes sense now.Everything.

"Imagine fucking us over by millions and almost ruining a legacy, then running back to me years later to ask for a loan." Knox sneers with disgust.

I look at him, and his gaze slides over to me.

"What do you want from us?" I can't take another second of this suspense.

"Repayment."

"You know good and well we can't pay you anything." He knows. Men like him do their homework.

His lips curve. Not in amusement. Something darker. "I have an offer for you, Miss Monroe. Think of it as a lifeline in your...destitutestate."

I blink. "What is it?"

"A way to settle your father's debt without involving lawyers, headlines, or federal court."

"Tell me." God, I hate the desperation in my tone.

Knox steeples his fingers, a slow smirk pulling at his mouth. "Your father left you the restaurant."

"He did?" I glance at William, who nods, but there's a look in his eyes that makes the fine hairs on the back of my neck rise.

"Your father set up an irrevocable trust so you would inherit the restaurant without any problems," William explains with a sigh. "He also set up a monthly stipend from the restaurant's earnings for your mother to pay for her treatment and living expenses. My guess is he did it to keep the property from his creditors. The restaurant was the one thing they couldn't touch. However, since Mr. Vale lent your father the money to clear the debt, he now has a financial interest in the property."