Chapter 8 - A Debt Bigger Than BetrayalRachel’s investigator identified Evan Rourke within hours.
Private equity.
Corporate restructuring.
Predatory acquisitions.
His firm specialized in purchasing distressed family companies, stripping valuable assets, and selling what remained.
Luca had secretly borrowed eight million dollars from an entity connected to Rourke.
The loan was secured against shares Luca did not yet own.
Arthur’s shares.
The impossible collateral suddenly explained everything.
Luca wasn't merely impatient for his inheritance.
He needed it.
If Arthur died and Luca inherited controlling ownership, Rourke could enforce the agreement.
If Arthur changed the trust, Luca faced financial ruin.
That evening, Luca appeared at our house.
I refused to let him inside.
“Jessi, we need to talk.”
“Talk through the door.”
“Rourke is dangerous.”
That was the first truthful sentence Luca had spoken to me in weeks.
“You borrowed eight million dollars.”
Silence.
“How do you know?”
“Does it matter?”
“I can fix this.”
“You forged Arthur’s trust.”
“I didn't.”
“Then who did?”
He looked toward the street.
“I don't know.”
For once, I believed him.
That frightened me more.
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Because if Luca hadn't forged the document, somebody else had.
And that person still wanted Vance Global.
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