Chapter 13 - Why Charles Wanted Lily's Birth Record
Victoria drove straight to Arthur’s house.
He opened the door before she knocked.
“You found the amendment.”
She stopped.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Daniel told me.”
“And you said nothing.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he ordered me not to unless you were removed.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“Everyone loved his instructions.”
Arthur flinched.
She stepped inside.
“Did Charles know?”
“I assumed not.”
“He did.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
“Then I’m a target too.”
“Yes.”
He looked almost relieved.
Victoria stared.
“That is not reassuring.”
“No.”
He moved to his desk.
Opened a drawer.
Pulled out a sealed folder.
Original Vance settlement index.
Not the file.
Index.
Names.
Property.
Claims.
Arthur’s signature.
Charles’s.
Vance counsel.
And one other.
James Harrington.
Daniel’s legal father.
Victoria frowned.
“What was James doing there?”
Arthur shook his head.
“I never met him.”
“Then why is his name on this?”
“Maybe proxy ownership.”
They checked.
James Harrington had acquired a tiny interest in one cleanup contractor.
Then transferred it.
To Charles Baird.
Blood connection.
Money connection.
Everything.
Victoria said, “Daniel’s genealogy showed Charles was his grandfather.”
Arthur looked stunned.
“Then James covered the line.”
“Maybe.”
Arthur sat.
“Victoria, there is something Daniel never told me.”
“Join the club.”
“Why Charles would care about your succession beyond land.”
She stared.
Arthur opened the trust terms.
One clause.
If current trustee exposes fraud against the trust, trustee receives expanded recovery authority.
Including restitution control.
Victoria’s pulse climbed.
“How much?”
Arthur ran numbers.
Tens of millions.
Maybe more.
Charles was not just losing land.
He was losing control of settlement reserves he had treated like his own.
Arthur whispered, “You can unwind everything.”
Victoria’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
Charles.
From custody.
“Enjoying the education?”
She almost smiled.
“You sound nervous.”
“Not remotely.”
“You forged my signatures, watched my daughter, corrupted my firm, bought the land, and tried to take Lily.”
“Temporary guardianship.”
“You are adorable when technical.”
Silence.
Then Charles said:
“Arthur has not told you the worst part.”
Victoria looked at him.
Arthur went pale.
“What part?”
Charles laughed softly.
“The first Vance settlement did not belong to Vance.”
Victoria frowned.
“Then whose?”
“Ask Arthur.”
The line ended.
She looked at him.
Arthur closed his eyes.
Then said:
“Mine.”
May you like
CUT.
