Chapter 4
Veronica stared at the trust clause as if she had never seen it.
Roman watched her pupils move across the page.
Real confusion.
Or very good acting.
“I didn't know this was in there.”
Helena scoffed.
“Please.”
Veronica snapped toward her.
“You told me it was about Sophie!”
Helena’s face hardened.
There it was.
The first open fracture between them.
Roman stepped back.
He wanted them talking.
Veronica’s breath shook.
“You said Roman’s will required a stable guardian arrangement.”
Helena said nothing.
“You said the trust was only activated to protect Sophie.”
Still nothing.
Roman looked at his mother.
“What did you tell her?”
Helena’s voice became cold.
“What she needed to hear.”
Veronica stared.
For the first time, genuine fear replaced defensiveness.
Roman understood.
Helena had manipulated her too.
Not innocent.
But not fully informed.
The trust documents were pulled.
Roman’s original estate plan did contain a provision involving Sophie.
If Roman died before she turned eighteen, trustees could remove assets from any guardian deemed unfit or unstable.
It did not automatically reward Veronica.
Someone had modified the supporting instructions.
The amendment was dated three weeks after Roman left for Sicily.
Roman looked toward Adrian.
“You had access to my legal archive.”
“So did Helena.”
“Not electronically.”
Adrian’s eyes shifted.
Again.
Roman leaned closer.
“Did you alter the trust?”
“No.”
“Did you help?”
Adrian looked toward Helena.
She did not look back.
Roman saw it.
Adrian's loyalty was not to his aunt.
It was to himself.
He stepped away from the window.
“There was already an amendment.”
Roman’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
Adrian exhaled slowly.
“Your attorney drafted something months ago.”
Roman’s attorney, Daniel Mercer, was summoned by secure video.
Daniel looked at the amendment and went pale.
“I never wrote this.”
“But your credentials created it.”
Daniel stared.
Then his face changed.
“My assistant.”
Roman felt the next piece arrive before anyone said it.
Daniel’s assistant had resigned six weeks earlier.
No notice.
No forwarding address.
Roman asked the name.
Daniel answered.
“Rachel Vale.”
Roman turned toward Veronica.
Her breath stopped.
May you like
Vale.
Her younger sister.
