Chapter 7
Lena had not known about the bar complaint.
Cassian believed her after two hours of questioning through counsel.
Not because she seemed sympathetic.
She did not.
She was furious.
“I wanted him to know what he did.”
She pointed at Cassian.
“I thought he did it.”
Rebecca asked:
“Who gave you the old support documents?”
“Arthur.”
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That Cassian was planning to cut us off permanently.”
Cassian looked at Lena.
“I didn’t know you existed as an arrangement.”
“I know that now.”
“Did you when you sent Jace to this school?”
Her face changed.
“I didn’t send him there because of Noah.”
“Then why?”
“Arthur offered tuition.”
“Why this school?”
“He said it was the best school nearby.”
Cassian stared.
“There are six schools closer to your house.”
Lena looked down.
She had not checked.
That hurt more than it helped.
Rebecca continued.
“Did Arthur tell Jace Cassian was his father?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“The same week.”
Cassian became still.
Arthur stopped payments.
Then told Jace the truth.
Then financed his transfer to Noah’s school.
Then gave Lena records making Cassian look responsible.
Too many connected choices.
Lena continued.
“Jace became obsessed.”
“With what?”
“Cassian. Noah. The firm. Everything.”
“Did you tell him to stay away from Noah?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell him to confront Cassian?”
“I told him someday he deserved answers.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Lena looked ashamed.
“I told him if Cassian ever came near him, not to be intimidated.”
“What words?”
She hesitated.
“Arthur gave him words.”
Cassian’s eyes changed.
“What words?”
Lena looked at him.
“He said Cassian would try to control the conversation. He told Jace, ‘If he threatens you or touches you, tell him everything burns.’”
Rebecca wrote it down.
Cassian remained perfectly still.
Lena continued rapidly.
“I thought Arthur meant the truth would come out.”
“What about ‘Go ahead, Dad’?”
“That was Jace.”
At least she believed so.
Lena began crying.
“I did not tell him to lock Noah in a locker.”
Cassian looked at her.
“I believe that.”
She stared.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
Jace’s anger toward Noah did not need an adult conspiracy to exist.
He was thirteen.
Hurt.
Jealous.
Misled.
That explained emotion.
It did not excuse assaulting an eight-year-old.
Both facts could survive together.
Then Lena produced her text thread with Arthur.
One message, six days before the locker incident:
He keeps asking why Noah got the life he didn’t. I’m worried he’ll go after the kid.
Arthur replied:
Boys posture. Don’t overreact. If it finally forces Cassian to face reality, maybe that isn’t the worst thing.
Cassian read it twice.
Arthur had been warned Noah might become a target.
He did nothing.
Worse, he saw possible value in it.
Still, that was negligence and manipulation.
May you like
Not proof Arthur planned the locker.
Part 8 would determine whether Cassian was willing to uncover the rest even if it destroyed the story he told himself about his own firm.
