Chapter 5
The third recording explained the hidden service room.
Camille knew about it from childhood.
We all did once.
Then forgot.
Our grandmother used it during parties when she wanted quiet.
Camille remembered.
She and Derek began using it for private conversations because modern security covered almost every other room.
No cameras.
Thick walls.
Perfect.
Violet discovered them accidentally.
The card she stole was not the original.
It was a backup Derek made after becoming nervous about Vincent.
Interesting.
Traitors distrust one another eventually.
Derek recorded every planning session without Camille knowing.
Then hid the card.
Violet saw him.
That was why both adults panicked differently.
Camille thought Violet found financial records.
Derek knew she found his insurance.
I looked at him across the interrogation room.
“You recorded them.”
He stared.
I held up the card.
His face collapsed.
Camille turned toward him.
“You what?”
There.
Their alliance cracked instantly.
Derek started defending himself.
“Vincent was going to leave us exposed.”
Camille shouted:
“You recorded me?”
I almost smiled.
People willing to manipulate children remain deeply offended by betrayal among adults.
I let them argue.
Useful.
Then Derek said something important.
“I needed proof if Vincent changed the plan.”
“What plan?”
He stopped.
Camille closed her eyes.
I waited.
Finally:
“The guardianship challenge.”
I stared.
There was a mechanism inside Elena’s trust.
If the sitting parent was declared unable to protect the children’s independent interests, a backup guardian could petition the family trustees to assume temporary financial control.
Not custody.
Financial authority.
Camille planned to trigger it.
“How?”
Derek answered.
“Show Adrian mixing family money with the children’s assets.”
I almost laughed.
I never touched their assets.
Exactly.
So they needed evidence.
Fake evidence?
Not necessarily.
Derek explained.
Vincent planned to move a small Kessler payment into one dormant trust-linked company without my knowledge.
Then expose it.
From outside, it would look like I had used the children’s money.
Camille steps forward reluctantly.
Protective aunt.
Temporary guardian.
Public sympathy.
Private leverage.
Then Derek whispered:
“But Vincent changed the plan last week.”
Of course.
“What did he change?”
May you like
Derek looked toward the sleeping wing.
“He decided Henry didn’t need to remain heir.”
