Chapter 16: The Truth Hidden in the Records

I had barely finished reviewing the Sterling Crown contract when Adrian walked into my office with a folder tucked beneath his arm.

His expression told me this wasn't another routine business matter.

"I found something," he said.

I looked up from my laptop.

"About the Lombardis?"

He nodded.

"About what happened to your company—and why someone was trying to use their name against you."

He placed the folder on my desk.

Inside were copies of old financial records, internal emails, and authorization forms.

My eyes moved across the pages.

Then I saw a familiar name.

Gianna Rossi.

I turned another page.

There were payments made through three different companies, all eventually leading back to an account controlled by the Rossi family.

But there was something else.

Several payments had been authorized using Hollis's credentials.

I stared at the signatures.

"He didn't do this."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

I knew Hollis's signature better than anyone. I'd signed thousands of documents beside him over the years.

This wasn't his handwriting.

Someone had forged it.

"Then why would they frame him?" Adrian asked.

I closed the folder.

"Because if Hollis takes the blame, the Lombardi family will turn against him before he realizes who is behind it."

Adrian's expression darkened.

"And whoever is behind it gets control of the company."

I nodded.

"Exactly."

That afternoon, Hollis came to my office.

He didn't call first.

He simply walked through the glass doors and stood at reception until my assistant told him I was available.

When he entered, he looked different from the man I'd known before.

Not the confident heir who had once walked into every room expecting people to move aside.

He looked like a man who had finally realized his family could collapse beneath his feet.

"Willa."

I didn't invite him to sit.

"What do you need?"

"I need to ask you something."

"Then ask."

He took a breath.

"Did you know about the Rossi accounts before today?"

I looked at him calmly.

"Yes."

His eyes widened.

"How long?"

"Since this morning."

"And you didn't tell me?"

I almost smiled.

"Why would I?"

He fell silent.

"Because I thought you hated me," he said finally.

"I did."

"And now?"

I closed the folder in front of me.

"Now I don't think about you enough to hate you."

His expression tightened.

For some reason, that seemed to hurt him more than anger would have.

"Willa, I'm trying to fix what I did."

"Then fix it."

"I am."

"Without asking me to save you."

He nodded slowly.

"I won't."

He turned toward the door.

Before he could leave, I stopped him.

"Hollis."

He looked back.

"The signatures were forged."

His face changed immediately.

"You're sure?"

"Very."

"How did you know?"

"Because I watched you sign documents for ten years."

He stared at me for a long moment.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. Find out who forged them."

He nodded and left.

That night, Hollis returned to the Lombardi estate.

He went straight to the private archives.

Matteo was waiting for him.

"Willa found the forgery," Hollis said.

His grandfather's expression remained calm.

"I expected she would."

"You knew?"

"I knew she was the only person who could identify it quickly."

Hollis lowered his eyes.

"I spent ten years treating her like she was replaceable."

Matteo's voice was quiet.

"And now?"

"Now I know there was never anyone to replace."

Matteo didn't respond.

Hollis opened the archive records and began comparing the forged authorizations with the original documents.

After nearly an hour, he found something.

Every forged document had been processed through the same internal terminal.

A terminal located inside the Lombardi family residence.

Hollis stared at the screen.

"Someone inside the family did this."

Matteo nodded.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you."

Then the security alarm suddenly sounded.

Both men looked toward the corridor.

A guard rushed into the room.

"Sir, someone just entered the restricted archive."

Hollis stood.

"Who?"

The guard swallowed.

"Gianna Rossi."

Hollis's face went completely still.

For the first time, there was no doubt left in his mind.

The woman he had defended for years was hiding something.

And tonight, he was finally going to find out what.