Chapter 8: The## Chapter 8: The Million-Dollar Betrayal
Eleanor Whitmore Million-Dollar Betrayal
Eleanor Whitmore stared at the laptop as though someone had placed a loaded weapon in front of her.
"Show me that again.""
Daniel turned stared at the laptop as though someone had placed a loaded weapon in front of her.
"Show me that again.""
Daniel turned the screen toward her.
She leaned forward, reading every line.
The proposed sale was dated October 16.
The buyer was Whitmore Fashion Group.
The seller was Hartwell Consulting.
And the assets being transferred included every remaining design, trademark, the screen toward her.
She leaned forward, reading every line.
The proposed sale was dated October 16.
The buyer was Whitmore Fashion Group.
The seller was Hartwell Consulting.
And the assets being transferred included every remaining design, trademark, and manufacturing agreement belonging to Claire Hart Studio.
Eleanor slowly removed her glasses.
"I never authorized this.""
Daniel nodded.
and manufacturing agreement belonging to Claire Hart Studio.
Eleanor slowly removed her glasses.
"I never authorized this.""
Daniel nodded.
"I assumed you hadn't.""
"Assumed? Daniel, someone is attempting to sell me stolen"I assumed you hadn't.""
"Assumed? Daniel, someone is attempting to sell me stolen intellectual property.""
She pointed at the screen.
"Find out who submitted this filing.""
"That's already being investigated.""
Eleanor stood and walked toward the window.
For the first time since I had met her, intellectual property.""
She pointed at the screen.
"Find out who submitted this filing.""
"That's already being investigated.""
Eleanor stood and walked toward the window.
For the first time since I had met her, she looked genuinely shaken.
I approached her.
"Why would Vanessa sell something to your company?""
Eleanor turned.
she looked genuinely shaken.
I approached her.
"Why would Vanessa sell something to your company?""
Eleanor turned.
"Because she knows my company has been looking for opportunities to expand our archival collections. Claire's"Because she knows my company has been looking for opportunities to expand our archival collections. Claire's original designs are extremely valuable.""
"But you knew my mother.""
"Yes.""
"Then why would you buy her work without asking me?""
"I wouldn't.""
She took my original designs are extremely valuable.""
"But you knew my mother.""
"Yes.""
"Then why would you buy her work without asking me?""
"I wouldn't.""
She took my hands.
"Amelia, listen carefully. If that proposal had reached my office, it would have been rejected hands.
"Amelia, listen carefully. If that proposal had reached my office, it would have been rejected immediately. Claire's work was never something I intended to purchase without your permission.""
Daniel examined immediately. Claire's work was never something I intended to purchase without your permission.""
Daniel examined the filing again.
"There's a signature attached to the authorization.""
"Whose?"" I asked.
He enlarged the document.
My the filing again.
"There's a signature attached to the authorization.""
"Whose?"" I asked.
He enlarged the document.
My stomach dropped.
Richard Hart.
My father's signature.
He had signed another transfer.
My father sat down heavily.
"I don't stomach dropped.
Richard Hart.
My father's signature.
He had signed another transfer.
My father sat down heavily.
"I don't remember signing that.""
Eleanor looked at him.
"Richard, did Vanessa ask you to sign any business documents recently?""
He stared at the remember signing that.""
Eleanor looked at him.
"Richard, did Vanessa ask you to sign any business documents recently?""
He stared at the screen.
"She said there were tax forms.""
"Did you read them?""
"No.""
Daniel closed his eyes briefly screen.
"She said there were tax forms.""
"Did you read them?""
"No.""
Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
"Richard, you need to stop signing documents without understanding them.""
My father looked at me.
"I know.""
"Do you?""
He lowered his head.
I wanted.
"Richard, you need to stop signing documents without understanding them.""
My father looked at me.
"I know.""
"Do you?""
He lowered his head.
I wanted to shout.
I wanted to ask him how many times he had chosen convenience over protecting me.
Instead, I asked one question to shout.
I wanted to ask him how many times he had chosen convenience over protecting me.
Instead, I asked one question.
"Did you ever love Mom?""
He looked up immediately.
"Of course I did.""
"Then why did you let this happen?""
His.
"Did you ever love Mom?""
He looked up immediately.
"Of course I did.""
"Then why did you let this happen?""
His eyes filled.
"I was weak.""
The answer was so simple that it hurt.
He continued eyes filled.
"I was weak.""
The answer was so simple that it hurt.
He continued.
"After Claire died, I couldn't bear looking at the business. Everything reminded me of her..
"After Claire died, I couldn't bear looking at the business. Everything reminded me of her. Vanessa offered to handle the accounts. She said she could help me rebuild my life.""
"And you believed her.""
"Yes.""
"You believed her more Vanessa offered to handle the accounts. She said she could help me rebuild my life.""
"And you believed her.""
"Yes.""
"You believed her more than you believed your wife.""
He didn't answer.
Daniel's phone rang again.
This time, he stepped into the hallway.
Eleanor sat than you believed your wife.""
He didn't answer.
Daniel's phone rang again.
This time, he stepped into the hallway.
Eleanor sat beside me.
"Your mother once told me something about your father," she said quietly.
I looked at her.
"What?""
"She said Richard was a good man beside me.
"Your mother once told me something about your father," she said quietly.
I looked at her.
"What?""
"She said Richard was a good man when things were easy. But she worried he wouldn't know how to be brave when doing the right thing became difficult.""
I stared at when things were easy. But she worried he wouldn't know how to be brave when doing the right thing became difficult.""
I stared at the floor.
"She was right.""
Eleanor nodded sadly.
"Sometimes the people who hurt us aren't monsters. the floor.
"She was right.""
Eleanor nodded sadly.
"Sometimes the people who hurt us aren't monsters. They're ordinary people who repeatedly choose the wrong thing because it is easier.""
I looked at her.
"Does that make it better?""
"No.""
She squeezed my hand.
"It makes understanding them They're ordinary people who repeatedly choose the wrong thing because it is easier.""
I looked at her.
"Does that make it better?""
"No.""
She squeezed my hand.
"It makes understanding them possible. Forgiving them is something else entirely.""
Daniel returned.
"The investigator has located the original Hartwell Consulting registration.""
"Where possible. Forgiving them is something else entirely.""
Daniel returned.
"The investigator has located the original Hartwell Consulting registration.""
"Where?"" Eleanor asked.
"At a commercial office in Manhattan. The registered agent is a company called Northbridge Corporate Services.""
He?"" Eleanor asked.
"At a commercial office in Manhattan. The registered agent is a company called Northbridge Corporate Services.""
He opened another document.
"The business was established eight months before Claire died.""
I frowned.
"Eight months?""
"Yes.""
"But Mom said she found opened another document.
"The business was established eight months before Claire died.""
I frowned.
"Eight months?""
"Yes.""
"But Mom said she found out about the transfers shortly before she died.""
Daniel nodded.
"Which suggests this wasn't a sudden financial problem out about the transfers shortly before she died.""
Daniel nodded.
"Which suggests this wasn't a sudden financial problem. It may have been planned.""
My father stood.
"I need to speak to Vanessa.""
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
"She's my wife.""
"She's a potential witness in a financial investigation. You. It may have been planned.""
My father stood.
"I need to speak to Vanessa.""
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
"She's my wife.""
"She's a potential witness in a financial investigation. You cannot contact her about the evidence.""
"I need to know what she did.""
"Then let the investigation establish it.""
My father looked at me.
"Amelia, cannot contact her about the evidence.""
"I need to know what she did.""
"Then let the investigation establish it.""
My father looked at me.
"Amelia, please. I want to make this right.""
I felt exhausted.
"You can't make the last eight years right.""
"I know.""
"You can't give me back the nights I spent wondering please. I want to make this right.""
I felt exhausted.
"You can't make the last eight years right.""
"I know.""
"You can't give me back the nights I spent wondering why Mom didn't leave me anything.""
"I know.""
"You can't give me back the money I should have had to study.""
why Mom didn't leave me anything.""
"I know.""
"You can't give me back the money I should have had to study.""
He lowered his head.
"I know.""
I turned away.
"Then stop asking me to make you feel better.""
He didn't followHe lowered his head.
"I know.""
I turned away.
"Then stop asking me to make you feel better.""
He didn't follow.
Daniel's investigator arrived shortly afterward.
His name was Mark Sullivan, and he wore a dark suit with a small badge clipped.
Daniel's investigator arrived shortly afterward.
His name was Mark Sullivan, and he wore a dark suit with a small badge clipped to his belt.
He photographed the documents, collected the laptop recording copy information, and carefully to his belt.
He photographed the documents, collected the laptop recording copy information, and carefully sealed the leather folder.
Then he asked to speak with each of us separately.
When he finished, he returned to the kitchen.
"We sealed the leather folder.
Then he asked to speak with each of us separately.
When he finished, he returned to the kitchen.
"We've located Vanessa.""
"Where?"" I asked.
"At a private office near the city center. She appears to be meeting someone.""
Daniel frowned.
"Who?""
Mark checked his phone.
"An attorney've located Vanessa.""
"Where?"" I asked.
"At a private office near the city center. She appears to be meeting someone.""
Daniel frowned.
"Who?""
Mark checked his phone.
"An attorney named Charles Bennett.""
Eleanor stiffened.
"Charles named Charles Bennett.""
Eleanor stiffened.
"Charles?""
"Do you know him?"" I asked.
She nodded slowly.
"He used to represent my company.""
Daniel looked up.
"Used?""
"Do you know him?"" I asked.
She nodded slowly.
"He used to represent my company.""
Daniel looked up.
"Used to?""
"He resigned three years ago after I discovered irregularities in a licensing agreement.""
Mark checked to?""
"He resigned three years ago after I discovered irregularities in a licensing agreement.""
Mark checked another message.
"There's more. Bennett also represented Hartwell Consulting during its registration.""
Daniel exchanged a look with Eleanor.
This was no longer another message.
"There's more. Bennett also represented Hartwell Consulting during its registration.""
Daniel exchanged a look with Eleanor.
This was no longer simply a dispute between a stepmother and a stepdaughter.
There were people outside our home who had been involved for years.
Mark continued.
"The investigator also found a series of payments from Hartwell Consulting to an account associated with Bennett's former law firm.""
Eleanor sat down.
"How much?""
"Approximately simply a dispute between a stepmother and a stepdaughter.
There were people outside our home who had been involved for years.
Mark continued.
"The investigator also found a series of payments from Hartwell Consulting to an account associated with Bennett's former law firm.""
Eleanor sat down.
"How much?""
"Approximately $160,000 over three years.""
I stared at the figures.
"Why would $160,000 over three years.""
I stared at the figures.
"Why would a lawyer receive that much money?""
Daniel answered.
"Legal fees can be substantial. But the timing and payment descriptions need to be examined.""
Mark nodded.
"Several payments were labeled document preparation. Others were marked guardianship administration.""
My stomach tightened.
"Does that mean he helped forge my signature?""
"We don't know yet.""
Mark looked toward Daniel a lawyer receive that much money?""
Daniel answered.
"Legal fees can be substantial. But the timing and payment descriptions need to be examined.""
Mark nodded.
"Several payments were labeled document preparation. Others were marked guardianship administration.""
My stomach tightened.
"Does that mean he helped forge my signature?""
"We don't know yet.""
Mark looked toward Daniel.
"But there's another issue.""
He placed a printed photograph on the table.
It showed Vanessa entering a building.
Beside her was a man carrying a black leather briefcase.
I recognized him.
I had seen him once.
"But there's another issue.""
He placed a printed photograph on the table.
It showed Vanessa entering a building.
Beside her was a man carrying a black leather briefcase.
I recognized him.
I had seen him once before.
At our house.
Three years earlier.
He had come to speak with my father about my inheritance.
I remembered Vanessa telling me to before.
At our house.
Three years earlier.
He had come to speak with my father about my inheritance.
I remembered Vanessa telling me to stay upstairs because the conversation was boring.
"That's him," I whispered.
Daniel looked at me.
"You recognize him?""
"Yes stay upstairs because the conversation was boring.
"That's him," I whispered.
Daniel looked at me.
"You recognize him?""
"Yes. He came to our house when I was seventeen.""
Mark pointed to the man.
"Charles Bennett.""
I looked at the photograph. He came to our house when I was seventeen.""
Mark pointed to the man.
"Charles Bennett.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Why was he meeting Vanessa?""
Daniel took a breath.
"We're going to find out.""
A few minutes.
"Why was he meeting Vanessa?""
Daniel took a breath.
"We're going to find out.""
A few minutes later, Mark received another call.
He stepped away.
When he returned, his expression was serious.
"Vanessa has filed an emergency application seeking later, Mark received another call.
He stepped away.
When he returned, his expression was serious.
"Vanessa has filed an emergency application seeking temporary control over the trust.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"She claims Amelia is financially unstable and emotionally incapable of managing the inheritance.""
I felt my cheeks burn.
"She's trying temporary control over the trust.""
I stared at him.
"What?""
"She claims Amelia is financially unstable and emotionally incapable of managing the inheritance.""
I felt my cheeks burn.
"She's trying to make me look crazy.""
Daniel nodded.
"That's what it appears to be.""
My father stood.
"She can't do that.""
Daniel looked at him.
"She can file to make me look crazy.""
Daniel nodded.
"That's what it appears to be.""
My father stood.
"She can't do that.""
Daniel looked at him.
"She can file an application. Whether she can establish any legal basis is another matter.""
I laughed bitterly.
"She's been doing this for an application. Whether she can establish any legal basis is another matter.""
I laughed bitterly.
"She's been doing this for years. Every time I disagreed with her, she told my father I was unstable. Every time I cried, she said I was manip years.
Every time I disagreed with her, she told my father I was unstable. Every time I cried, she said I was manipulative.""
Eleanor looked at me.
"Amelia, has anyone ever formally evaluated your ability to manage your finances?""
"No.""
"Have you ever been declared legally incapable of making decisions?""
"No.""
Danielulative.""
Eleanor looked at me.
"Amelia, has anyone ever formally evaluated your ability to manage your finances?""
"No.""
"Have you ever been declared legally incapable of making decisions?""
"No.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Then this application will need substantial evidence.""
Mark placed another paper on the table.
"There is shook his head.
"Then this application will need substantial evidence.""
Mark placed another paper on the table.
"There is something else. The application includes a medical statement.""
My heart stopped.
"Whose?""
"Dr. Samuel Reed.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Mom's doctor?""
Daniel read the document.
"It claims something else. The application includes a medical statement.""
My heart stopped.
"Whose?""
"Dr. Samuel Reed.""
I looked at Eleanor.
"Mom's doctor?""
Daniel read the document.
"It claims that Amelia has exhibited signs of severe emotional instability since her mother's death.""
I felt physically sick.
"That's impossible. that Amelia has exhibited signs of severe emotional instability since her mother's death.""
I felt physically sick.
"That's impossible. Dr. Reed has never examined me.""
Mark nodded.
"Which is why this document is suspicious.""
Daniel studied the signature.
Then he Dr. Reed has never examined me.""
Mark nodded.
"Which is why this document is suspicious.""
Daniel studied the signature.
Then he looked up.
"That's not Dr. Reed's current signature.""
Eleanor leaned forward.
"Can you verify that?""
"Yes. We'll contact him directly.""
My father suddenly spoke.
"Vanessa knows about the application?""
Mark looked up.
"That's not Dr. Reed's current signature.""
Eleanor leaned forward.
"Can you verify that?""
"Yes. We'll contact him directly.""
My father suddenly spoke.
"Vanessa knows about the application?""
Mark nodded.
"She submitted it.""
Richard sank into his chair.
"She told me she was going to help Amelia.""
I turned toward him.
"How many times are you going to believe nodded.
"She submitted it.""
Richard sank into his chair.
"She told me she was going to help Amelia.""
I turned toward him.
"How many times are you going to believe her?""
He had no answer.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
His face changed.
"What her?""
He had no answer.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
His face changed.
"What?""
Another pause.
"Are you certain?""
He looked at me.
"Yes. Send the documents immediately.""
He ended the call?""
Another pause.
"Are you certain?""
He looked at me.
"Yes. Send the documents immediately.""
He ended the call.
"What happened?"" I asked.
"Dr. Reed has responded.""
"And?""
Daniel looked down at the medical statement.
"What happened?"" I asked.
"Dr. Reed has responded.""
"And?""
Daniel looked down at the medical statement.
"He says he never wrote it.""
I exhaled.
"Then that's proof she forged it.""
"Poss.
"He says he never wrote it.""
I exhaled.
"Then that's proof she forged it.""
"Possibly. But he also remembered something else.""
"What?""
Daniel placed a new document on the table.
"Three years ago, Dribly. But he also remembered something else.""
"What?""
Daniel placed a new document on the table.
"Three years ago, Dr. Reed received a package containing a copy of Claire's medical records. Someone had added a handwritten note claiming your mother had been diagnosed with a hereditary.
Reed received a package containing a copy of Claire's medical records. Someone had added a handwritten note claiming your mother had been diagnosed with a hereditary condition that could affect your ability to make financial decisions.""
I stared at him.
"Hereditary?""
"Yes.""
"But Mom never had anything condition that could affect your ability to make financial decisions.""
I stared at him.
"Hereditary?""
"Yes.""
"But Mom never had anything like that.""
Daniel nodded.
"Dr. Reed says the claim was medically inaccurate.""
I looked at the papers like that.""
Daniel nodded.
"Dr. Reed says the claim was medically inaccurate.""
I looked at the papers.
My mother's financial records.
The forged inheritance waiver.
The false medical statement.
The suspicious medication.
My mother's financial records.
The forged inheritance waiver.
The false medical statement.
The suspicious medication changes.
Everything was beginning to connect.
Vanessa hadn't simply stolen money.
She had been building a story.
A story in which I was incapable changes.
Everything was beginning to connect.
Vanessa hadn't simply stolen money.
She had been building a story.
A story in which I was incapable of managing my own inheritance.
A story in which she was the responsible adult protecting the family.
And she of managing my own inheritance.
A story in which she was the responsible adult protecting the family.
And she had been preparing it for years.
I stood.
"Where is Vanessa now?""
Mark answered.
"Still with Bennett.""
I looked at had been preparing it for years.
I stood.
"Where is Vanessa now?""
Mark answered.
"Still with Bennett.""
I looked at Daniel.
"I want to know what they're planning.""
Daniel shook his head.
"We won't approach them without the appropriate authorization.""
"Then what can I do?""
Eleanor looked at my silver-and Daniel.
"I want to know what they're planning.""
Daniel shook his head.
"We won't approach them without the appropriate authorization.""
"Then what can I do?""
Eleanor looked at my silver-and-blue dress hanging over the back of a chair.
"There's one thing Claire would have wanted you to do-blue dress hanging over the back of a chair.
"There's one thing Claire would have wanted you to do.""
"What?""
"Finish what you started.""
I looked at her.
"The scholarship competition?""
She nodded.
"The judges haven't announced the final.""
"What?""
"Finish what you started.""
I looked at her.
"The scholarship competition?""
She nodded.
"The judges haven't announced the final results. And tomorrow morning, they're holding the final public presentation.""
I had almost forgotten.
The scholarship.
The institute results. And tomorrow morning, they're holding the final public presentation.""
I had almost forgotten.
The scholarship.
The institute.
The future I had been fighting for before my mother's past swallowed everything.
Eleanor smiled gently.
"Your.
The future I had been fighting for before my mother's past swallowed everything.
Eleanor smiled gently.
"Your mother didn't spend years teaching you to create beautiful things so you could spend the rest of your life being afraid of someone else's ugl mother didn't spend years teaching you to create beautiful things so you could spend the rest of your life being afraid of someone else's ugliness.""
I looked at the dress.
Then at the papers.
For the first time that evening, I knew what I wanted.
"Iiness.""
I looked at the dress.
Then at the papers.
For the first time that evening, I knew what I wanted.
"I'll go tomorrow.""
Daniel nodded.
"Good.""
But before anyone could say another word, Mark's phone rang again.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately'll go tomorrow.""
Daniel nodded.
"Good.""
But before anyone could say another word, Mark's phone rang again.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately.
"Where?""
He listened.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Vanessa just withdrew the application.
"Where?""
He listened.
Then he looked at Daniel.
"Vanessa just withdrew the application.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
Mark lowered the phone.
"Because someone has submitted a new document to the court.""
"What document?""
.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
Mark lowered the phone.
"Because someone has submitted a new document to the court.""
"What document?""
He turned the screen toward us.
It was a photograph of a handwritten letter.
The signature at the bottom belonged toHe turned the screen toward us.
It was a photograph of a handwritten letter.
The signature at the bottom belonged to my mother.
But the date was impossible.
It had been written four days after her funeral.
And its contents claimed that Claire my mother.
But the date was impossible.
It had been written four days after her funeral.
And its contents claimed that Claire had voluntarily transferred ownership of her entire company to Vanessa Hart.
I stared at the screen.
My mother's handwriting.
My mother's signature.
had voluntarily transferred ownership of her entire company to Vanessa Hart.
I stared at the screen.
My mother's handwriting.
My mother's signature.
My mother's name.
But my mother had been dead.
So who had written the letter?
And why had they waited eight yearsMy mother's name.
But my mother had been dead.
May you like
So who had written the letter?
And why had they waited eight years to use it?
