“You weren’t there, Alexander. You were never there. Someone had to raise that child while you hid in your office.”
The accusation struck home.
Alexander did not deny it.
“I failed my son,” he said. “But that doesn’t excuse what you did.”
Caroline looked toward Hannah.
“And who is this girl? Some waitress looking for a wealthy family’s attention?”
Hannah stiffened.
Oliver immediately spoke.
“She’s my friend.”
Caroline laughed coldly.
“Of course she is. She’s probably hoping your father will give her money.”
Alexander stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Caroline’s expression darkened.
“You’re making a terrible mistake.”
“Perhaps,” Alexander said. “But not the one you think.”
He turned to one of his security guards.
“Please arrange for the car.”
Caroline moved closer.
“Alexander, we have the foundation dinner tomorrow. You cannot start another family scandal.”
Alexander stopped.
The foundation.
Elizabeth had established the Bennett Children’s Foundation years earlier to provide medical treatment, grief counseling, and emergency support for struggling families.
Since her death, Caroline had assumed control of its daily operations.
Alexander remained chairman, but he had left nearly every decision to her.
He remembered the documents she had repeatedly asked him to sign.
The urgent transfers.
The unexplained expenses.
The assurances that everything was being handled.
A troubling possibility surfaced.
