Chapter 16 — What the Money Said

In the days after that phone call, the full shape of what Alistair had built finally came clear, and it was a thing of terrible, patient foresight.

He had known, for years before he died, that his own wife and son might one day plunder the children’s charity to save the family business.

He had refused, while he lived, to let a single charitable dollar go, and he had understood that his refusal would not survive him — that the moment he was gone, the pressure of the debts and Constance’s desperation would breach the wall he had held alone.

So he had done the only thing a man in his position could do.