Chapter 15
Lila’s trust was restored fully.
With growth.
From my own reserves first.
Family reserves second.
Not Lucy’s future.
Not any shared child fund.
The money belonged to Lila because adults had taken it.
Simple.
I told her nothing about amounts.
She was four.
Money should not become identity.
Then I changed every child trust rule.
No automatic reversion upon a reported death without independent confirmation.
No elder-controlled reserve capturing a child’s assets.
No hidden redistribution through family committees.
Boring structural fixes.
Necessary.
More importantly, I ended the old twin succession custom entirely.
No preference by minutes.
No forced separation.
No “one branch” rule.
Not because I expected both girls to want power.
Because I wanted the family to stop writing futures before children could read.
One old captain asked:
“What if both want the chair?”
I smiled.
“Then they’ll be adults and we’ll deal with adults.”
He frowned.
“What if neither?”
“Even better.”
That answer horrified him.
Good.
Lucy overheard later.
“What chair?”
“Nothing.”
Lila asked:
“Can we have two?”
I laughed.
“Yes.”
May you like
We bought two small chairs for their playroom.
Problem solved at the appropriate age.
