Chapter 12 - Blake Begged to Come Home
That evening, Blake called from a hotel.
His voice sounded different.
Not arrogant.
Afraid.
“Claire, Malcolm lied to me.”
“You forged my signature.”
“He said the loan would save the company.”
“You planned to take Emma.”
“That was Patricia’s idea.”
“Every coward blames his mother eventually.”
He went silent.
Then he said Malcolm had threatened to expose unpaid taxes, fraudulent investor reports, and personal guarantees Blake had signed without understanding them.
“I thought if I got control of the trust shares, I could repay everything.”
“You thought stealing from me was easier than admitting you failed.”
“I never meant to lose you.”
“You brought your girlfriend into the plan.”
“Marissa works for Malcolm.”
That stopped me.
Blake claimed Marissa had approached him at a business conference, encouraged the affair, and introduced him to Morrow Capital. She knew exactly how to flatter him and exactly when to offer money.
“Are you saying Malcolm planted her?”
“Yes.”
“You still chose her.”
“I know.”
His voice cracked.
For years, I had imagined that if Blake ever admitted wrongdoing, I would feel relief.
I felt nothing.
He asked to come home and explain everything.
I refused.
Then he said, “I know where the amendment is.”
Patricia had given it to Marissa.
Marissa kept it in the Seattle condo Blake had rented for her.
“Why tell me now?”
“Because Malcolm ordered her to destroy it tonight.”
Daniel arranged for the deputy to contact Seattle police. Blake offered written consent to search the condo because the lease was in his company’s name.
Before officers arrived, the building’s fire alarm activated.
Security footage showed Marissa leaving through the garage carrying a red leather portfolio.
She drove north.
Toward Port Townsend.
May you like
Toward us.
👉 Marissa was no longer destroying the amendment—she was bringing it directly to the house for reasons nobody understood.
