Chapter 15 - The Lie Under Oath
Arthur looked toward the judge.
Then toward Genevieve.
“Yes.”
The courtroom erupted in whispers.
Genevieve felt betrayed all over again.
Malcolm’s lawyer smiled.
“You knew.”
“I knew he had an interest.”
“And you continued employing him.”
“Yes.”
“You approved transactions he advised.”
“Yes.”
“So Mr. Pierce’s financial relationship was not concealed from Bellamy leadership.”
Arthur swallowed.
“Not entirely.”
The defense had found its opening.
During recess Genevieve confronted him.
“You told me you discovered it later.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
She laughed bitterly.
“That word again.”
Arthur had known Malcolm owned a small interest in NorthStar’s predecessor.
Malcolm told him it was passive and immaterial.
Arthur accepted the explanation.
“What you didn’t know,” Sarah said, “was that the interest expanded and became contingent on Bellamy transactions.”
Arthur nodded.
But credibility had been damaged.
The prosecution recovered by showing Malcolm concealed later amendments.
Still, Arthur’s lie hurt.
Genevieve left court furious.
Then she made a choice different from her earlier leak.
She did nothing.
No press statement.
No revenge.
No dramatic confrontation beyond what had already happened.
She went home and fed Clara.
Growth was sometimes disappointingly quiet.
The jury deliberated.
Meanwhile, Genevieve’s divorce settlement reached final stages.
Julian agreed to waive claims against appreciation tied directly to fraud-tainted transactions.
Genevieve agreed to equitable division of legitimate marital property.
The house would be sold.
Julian would retain his separate investment properties subject to creditors.
Neither would pay the other ongoing spousal support.
Custody remained under court supervision.
Genevieve asked him one final question during mediation.
“If Malcolm had never approached you, would we still be married?”
Julian looked at her for a long time.
“I don’t know.”
She appreciated the answer.
A romantic lie would have been easier.
Truth was better.
Malcolm’s jury returned.
Guilty on multiple counts of conspiracy, fraud, bribery, obstruction, and related financial offenses.
The charges tied to Thomas and Rebecca’s deaths were handled separately because of their complexity.
Later, prosecutors secured a conviction against Malcolm for conspiracy and reckless conduct connected to the boat sabotage, though not intentional murder.
Genevieve initially felt disappointed.
She wanted the word murder.
Sarah reminded her:
“The evidence proved what it proved.”
Genevieve nodded.
That had become her discipline.
Frank Delaney pleaded guilty to serious offenses connected to sabotage and obstruction.
The corrupt detective’s estate could not be prosecuted, but the historical record was formally corrected.
Thomas and Rebecca Bellamy’s deaths were no longer described as an unexplained mechanical accident.
Genevieve visited their graves.
She brought Clara.
“Your grandfather was right,” she whispered.
Clara slept.
“About Malcolm.”
Wind moved through the cemetery trees.
“He was wrong about some things too, probably.”
Genevieve smiled sadly.
“I’m trying not to turn dead people into saints.”
She placed flowers down.
“I wish you had gotten the chance to be complicated.”
Behind her, Arthur waited at a distance.
Genevieve eventually waved him forward.
He stood beside her.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I should have believed Thomas.”
“Yes.”
“I should have protected you.”
Genevieve looked at him.
“You did protect me.”
Arthur seemed surprised.
“Sarah. The trust. Education. A home.”
She paused.
“You also failed me.”
His eyes filled.
“Both are true.”
That became the lesson of the entire year.
People were rarely one thing.
But consequences could still be clear.
Then Sarah called.
“There’s a problem with Julian’s plea.”
Genevieve stiffened.
“What problem?”
“Federal prosecutors found evidence he didn’t disclose.”
“What evidence?”
“A second account.”
“How much?”
“Six million.”
May you like
Genevieve closed her eyes.
Julian had lied again.
