Chapter 230
Veronica’s POV
Harmon Designs – The Next day
“I can’t believe this?” Jonathan said as I, Adrian, Jane and Ann watched over.
“I always thought the reason Harmon Designs didn’t have any legacy collection was cause he founded it p>
The old transaction receipts lay before us on the table, with the name of the buyer staring back at us.
Alex Vale.
“Ann told me mother sold the legacy drafts to Alex,” Adrian told us.
“She told mother made copies and sold the original ones p>
“She knew grandfather would never use them as he claimed he founded Harmon Designs p>
“That was her cover p>
“I’ve already searched the archives, and can confirm the designs she sold were actually my first design drafts p>
“My father had notarized them, the reason Alex took his jewelry house out of the country p>
Tension grew in the room as mother spoke.
I realized this may not be a simple business investigation but a family battle that no one wanted but would be fighting.
Sides p>
Probably would be Harmon and Staf.
Just then the door opened without invitation.
I was not a bit surprised to see the unwanted guest p>
Imelda.
“What brings you here?” Jonathan asked in a sarcastic voice.
She didn’t look at anyone, not even Jonathan, but only Adrian.
Oddly, her expression was calm…too calm.
“What’s everyone discussing?” she asked casually as if she came late for the meeting.
A small pathetic laugh escaped my lips as I understood the pattern.
She was portraying herself as a member of the meeting.
Meant by now she knew her doings were out of the box, and now she wanted to know how much we knew.
I became wary of Imelda’s composure. She was behaving like an innocent member who just came in on hearing some whispers from the outsiders.
Then I erected in my chair as I saw her gaze fall on Ann.
“You!” Imelda accused, spitting venom.
You’re that girl, Ann p>
“You manipulated my son p>
“I put that robber of a father of yours in jail p>
“You came searching for my son, and took your revenge p>
“I did reach Mr. Staf because I wanted to find out the truth p>
“My father was innocent and you know that p>
“Like hell he was,” Imelda retorted.
“If he was innocent, why didn’t your lawyer prove so p>
“I can understand, after all he is your father p>
“No matter how good or bad they are…a child always thinks they are the best p>
“Trust me..no one knows better than me p>
This was the first time I really felt sympathetic towards Imelda as she did have a point there.
But I was equally angry as I saw her making Ann’s pain sound like a child refusing to see the truth.
“To be honest,” the voice Imelda used, made my stomach twist.
“Your father was guilty as he did steal the confidential drafts p>
“And you had the audacity of manipulating my son into reopening the case p>
“You knew my relationship with my son is estranged p>
“You took the benefit of doubt and used this to make him go against me p>
“The investigation back then was official p>
“The police investigated, everyone was cross-examined, both side lawyers did their work p>
“He was announced guilty of charge p>
I was watching Adrian, who was silent since Imelda walked in.
I knew her smug smile was because she was thinking he’s agreeing with her,
In reality he wasn’t.
The reality was…he was in a conflict.
He was struggling as he was seeing his mother’s two faces.
The face he saw when he was growing up.
The mother he remembers when he was seven.
And the mother he realized she was after he grew up.
“You approaching Adrian was never innocent p>
“You knew he was my son, Imelda’s son p>
“You deliberately became his assistant so you could be closer to him p>
“Adrian,” she said leaning over with a sympathetic look. “You cannot trust her p>
Ann was about to reply back, but Adrian raised his hand p>
Imelda and Ann stopped.
I realized Imelda was succeeding…she managed to shift the attention from the evidence towards Ann’s motive and her reaching Adrian.
“Imelda,” I finally spoke up.
“Just because Ann approached Harmon Designs or Adrian, does not mean the evidence is fake p>
“Everyone has the right to seek evidence to discover the truth of the matter p>
“Especially when it concerns their parent p>
“And if you claim Ann’s father is guilty p>
“How did he make copies with timestamps p>
“How can an accountant know a designer thing p>
“Why were the missing files never identified in the Harmon records, and why were the lost designs never labeled copies instead of original p>
I knew I can’t give Imelda the benefit of doubt. She has to know she cannot have the stand here…not anymore.
Imelda’s gaze fell on Adrian again, this time with a questioning look.
“Did you sell those design drafts?” Adrian asked his mother directly.
Silence fell in the room.
“Adrian,” she asked.
“Do you really believe what this girl told you p>
“Don’t you know your mother p>
I saw his expression change as I knew how deeply the question affected him.
Ever since I adopted Adrian, I’ve felt protective of him and seeing him struggle with the possibility she could have betrayed the very firm they lived on, was too much for him to bear.
“Adrian,” I spoke as I placed my hand on his.
“Don’t let your mother’s choices affect your own identity and mind p>
“Remember,” I said. “Whatever she did, is her own decision p>
“You don’t have to defend her, and you don’t have to carry her guilt p>
Then I looked straight at her.
“If we find out something bad about our family, it doesn’t mean we are responsible for that p>
“Adrian,” Jonathan said.
“You are you, Imelda is Imelda p>
“Remember, you stand up to your doings, not hers p>
Now he looked more relaxed than before.
I noticed Imelda’s expression had hardened.
Probably she noticed her son had another family to lean against.
“You’re all making the same mistake all over again p>
“You think the matter over here is about some drafts being stolen p>
“It’s not p>
“He stole more than just some designs drafts p>
“Something more valuable than designs p>
“What do you mean by that p>
“Adrian,” I said whispering to him.
“Relax p>
I realized Imelda was deliberately causing us to believe another mystery so we would forget the one in hand.
“You knew Alex bought the designs p>
She said smiling.
“Alex made his company over my designs, didn’t he?” mother finally asked.
“Alex has always been ambitious, everyone knows about him p>
“So you did sell the designs to him, didn’t you?” Adrian questioned her again.
She still didn’t answer, causing Adrian to tighten his fists in anger.
I was surprised as I realized she may be knowing more about Alex then we all do.
“What is it that you’re not telling?” Adrian again questioned her.
“Adrian,” Imelda said, looking hurt.
“Why are you asking the wrong questions to the wrong person p>
“Before you judge me, you should know more about me as a person, and not as a mother who may be nothing more than a person who should sit at home and raise a child.
I wanted to laugh out loud as that was one thing she never did…not even for a day.
Something Adrian lacked in his life…mother’s love.
She began to walk towards the door as Adrian called her back to explain herself.
Jonathan also got up to calm him down.
“You really are protecting Alex, aren’t you?” I questioned her.
I couldn’t read her face as she turned towards us.
“You all think I sold Harmon Designs p>
“Especially you,” she said, glancing at Adrian.
“Do you really think you know your grandfather well p>
Adrian froze on hearing her as she walked out.