Chapter 5 - The Dead Patriarch Under the Stairs
Charles Bellamy emerged from the hidden corridor using a silver cane.
The family had announced his death after a private plane accident, held a funeral and transferred his shares to Margaret.
In reality, Charles had lived beneath the mansion, directing the trust through secret accounts while allowing the public to remember him as a respected industrialist.
Richard stared at his father.
“You watched us bury an empty coffin.”
Charles replied without shame.
“I preserved the company. Grief made you obedient, and obedience protected thousands of jobs.”
Grace looked around at the marble, gold panels and servants standing silently near the hall.
“You always hide behind workers when defending theft. You steal their wages, then claim every crime was committed to save their jobs.”
Charles called her insolent.
“You ate because this family employed you.”
Grace’s voice cut through him.
“I ate because I worked. Your family did not feed me out of mercy.”
Charles admitted Catherine had discovered the pension scheme.
He claimed Dr. Sloan only intended to calm her until documents could be moved.
Richard demanded to know whether the medication caused her death.
Charles said Catherine was alive when he last saw her.
Margaret looked startled.
Richard turned toward his mother.
“You told me she died at Massachusetts General.”
Margaret’s composure finally cracked.
“She did.”
Charles shook his head.
“No. She was transferred.”
He revealed that Catherine had been placed inside a Bellamy-funded psychiatric residence under another name after refusing to sign away the twins’ shares.
Victoria knew because her family operated the facility.
Richard ordered the address.
Charles smiled.
“The facility closed three years ago.”
Grace opened the ledger to the final page.
A recent payment had been made for Catherine’s care.
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The receiving address was not a hospital.
It was Victoria’s private townhouse.
