Chapter 10 - What Robert Asked Maya to Find
Robert admitted.
After Claire’s death, he asked Maya whether she knew where old prosthetic was.
He wanted NR-17 recovered.
Why?
He believed prototype contained confidential IP belonging partly Northbridge.
He also feared Claire would use it in litigation through estate.
Instead of going legal route, he asked daughter privately.
Wrong.
Maya searched once.
Didn't find.
Then left it.
Years later she met Ethan.
Robert told her stay away.
She didn't.
Then after marriage, she searched again.
That's when Sophie noticed.
Maya kept lying.
Then Ethan asked Robert:
“Did you tell her to marry me?”
“No.”
“Did you encourage it?”
“No.”
Maya confirmed.
Relationship not scheme originally.
But once married, she concealed conflict.
Then SOPHIE envelope opened.
Claire’s letter:
Sophie,
If you are old enough to read this, I am sorry I put anything inside something your body depends on.
Good.
She acknowledged burden.
I chose the old shell because it was already retired, not because I wanted you wearing it again.
There.
Maya had returned Sophie to old prosthetic, not Claire’s intent.
Claire never expected child to use it.
Then:
NR-17 is not yours to protect.
Give it to Dad.
And Dad—
if you're reading—
do not let anger turn Maya into the whole story.
Ethan stopped.
Claire knew complexity.
Then:
Maya helped me discover what happened. She also chose her family when it mattered most.
Both true.
Then Claire described bigger issue.
Northbridge acquisition valuation included patent assets and clinical dataset.
If Hannah’s IP and Sophie’s data were improperly included, purchase price inflated.
Who benefited most?
Robert.
Kevin.
Several executives.
Maya owned small employee shares.
She received $380,000.
Not trivial.
Did she stay silent partly for money?
Yes.
Maya admitted.
She had student loans, family loyalty, fear.
Claire confronted her before acquisition.
Maya could have stopped closing.
She didn't.
That was her financial betrayal.
Then Ethan asked:
“What is in Robert’s envelope?”
Robert refused to open.
Not his decision? Envelope addressed him, but Claire’s estate perhaps.
He opened eventually.
Inside one sentence:
You know who signed the second consent.
Robert turned white.
Second consent?
Everyone thought one forged form.
There were two.
One for Sophie’s data.
One for another child.
May you like
Lily.
And Robert knew signer.
