Diane's Choice
Chapter 06 - Diane's Choice
Diane followed Eleanor into the hallway.
“Is it true?”
Eleanor turned.
“About Richard?”
Diane nodded.
“I don't know.”
Diane looked toward the hospital room.
“My father always defended him.”
“That doesn't mean he was innocent.”
Diane wiped her eyes.
For years, Richard had managed most of the Caldwell family's business interests.
He handled investments.
Property.
Taxes.
Everyone trusted him.
Especially Diane.
“I signed documents he gave me,” she whispered.
Eleanor felt a chill.
“What documents?”
“I don't know.”
That answer frightened both of them.
Diane called her accountant.
By evening, they discovered three properties held jointly by Diane and Richard had been refinanced.
Diane had never received the money.
Her signature appeared on every loan.
She stared at the copies.
“I signed blank pages.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
Richard had not only taken advantage of Thomas.
He had used his sister too.
Diane looked toward her father's room.
“I spent the whole morning being angry that he married you.”
Eleanor said nothing.
Diane began crying.
“And Richard has been stealing from us.”
Eleanor touched her arm.
“Don't decide anything because you're angry.”
Diane laughed bitterly.
“That's what Dad always said.”
Then she looked at Eleanor.
“I thought you came here for money.”
“I know.”
“I'm sorry.”
Eleanor nodded.
It was not forgiveness yet.
But it was the beginning of something neither expected.
That evening, Diane entered Thomas's room alone.
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When she came out, she was carrying a second envelope.
On it was her name.
