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After waiting in silence for another fifteen minutes, Detective Edgar Del Rio returned. He closed the door behind him with the sole of his shoe and sank into his chair, looking troubled. “Well, we’ve had some interesting developments.”
“Can I talk to him?” Belle asked.
“Won’t be a good idea.” Del Rio shook his head. “You’ve just filled charges against him. The DA won’t be happy if I allow you any kind of contact with Mr Curtis.”
“But I need to ask him something,” Belle insisted.
“Let me guess, about your twin sisters?”
“How did you know?”
“I drew some conclusions based on what you told me.” Del Rio leafed through his legal pad before he continued. “You won’t like what you’re going to hear, Ms Beaumont. It appears Trent Curtis has been blackmailed by your sisters.” Del Rio paused and looked at his notes. “And your mother.”
Armand and Hervé traded gazes. Belle looked utterly shocked.
“My mother?” she echoed.
“According to Curtis, Maggie Beaumont isn’t your biological mother. And Clara and Sarah Beaumont aren’t your biological siblings, either.”
Belle gaped. “What?”
“You were adopted into the Beaumont family when you were three years old. Do you know Vivienne Beaumont?”
“Aunty Viv?” Belle shook her head. “Just from the photographs. I didn’t know her personally. She died when I was just a baby.”
“Do you know you’re the sole heir of Vivienne Beaumont’s estate?”
Armand crossed his arms over his chest. He started to get a good idea of what was going on here. Belle, however, remained oblivious.
“I…I don’t understand,” Belle said.
“Well, your family fortune didn’t belong to your father. The mansion and the summer home in Florida were actually deeded to your biological mother, Joan Clement.”
“Joan Clement?”
“She was Vivienne Beaumont’s caretaker. Do you remember her?”
Belle shook her head weakly. “I’ve seen some photos.”
“When Vivienne Beaumont died, Joan Clement inherited your aunt’s wealth. And not even your father had a little slice of the family fortune. Your aunt’s decision, of course, angered the family. Especially Maggie Beaumont, who strongly felt her husband, your father, should be the sole heir of Vivienne’s estate.”
“Why would Aunt Viv do that?”
Del Rio smiled wanly. “Isn’t it obvious? Vivienne Beaumont disliked Maggie so much she would rather give her estate to a person who took care of her during her difficult illness. When Vivienne found out your father had an affair with Joan Clement, which resulted in you, your aunt changed her will and named Joan as the sole heir of her estate.”
Belle gulped. “I find this hard to believe…”
“It’s the truth, Ms Beaumont,” Del Rio confirmed. “Shortly after Vivienne Beaumont’s death, Maggie contested the will in the courts and practically bullied Joan Clement to her early death. Do you know your biological mother committed suicide?”
“No.” Her answer was barely a husk of a whisper.
“With your mother’s death, naturally, the Beaumont estate became yours. Maggie then schemed to have you legally adopted into the family so they all could stay in the mansion and continue to receive allowance from Vivienne Beaumont’s trust fund. However, it seems your father couldn’t take the guilt and committed suicide in the same manner as your mother, which I find highly suspicious.”
“Do you think Mother…Maggie had something to do with it?” Belle asked.
“This is another matter I’d like to pursue after this. Now, about Trent…” Del Rio tapped his pen on the legal pad. “As is my understanding, he was your boyfriend?”
“We dated briefly.”
