Robert grabbed the pages.
“These are administrative expenses.”
Elena didn’t blink.
“Four hundred eighty-two thousand dollars in administrative expenses?”
The room became silent.
Robert’s face tightened.
“There were investments.”
“Then why were so many payments made to your company?”
Robert didn’t answer.
Elena continued.
“Consulting fees. Management fees. Travel expenses. Legal services from a firm owned by your brother-in-law.”
She turned another page.
“And payments labeled as educational expenses for children who were never enrolled in the programs listed.”
Noah looked at Robert.
“You stole from us.”
“I did not steal anything.”
Robert’s voice rose.
“I managed the money. I took risks. I made sure the account grew.”
Mason pointed to the final page.
“Then explain this.”
Robert stared at it.
His own signature was printed beneath a transfer authorization.
The amount was $86,000.
The destination account belonged to Robert’s private investment company.
“I was going to put it back.”
Noah laughed bitterly.
“When?”
Robert looked around the room.
For the first time that night, nobody came to his defense.
Not my sister.
Not the cousins.
