Chapter 4 - THE INHERITANCE
My grandmother, Eleanor Carter, had died eighteen months earlier.
She was the only person in my family who had ever treated Preston and me equally.
She had built the Carter Hospitality Group from a single roadside motel into a regional chain worth millions.
My father became chairman after her retirement.
Preston became executive vice president.
I was given a decorative title and excluded from every important decision.
Grandmother had seen what they were doing.
In her will, she left thirty-five percent of the company to me.
She also placed her lakefront property and several investment accounts in a trust for Sophie.
My parents told me the trust was modest.
They claimed the house required more repairs than it was worth.
I believed them because I had been trained to doubt myself.
The files on Preston’s phone told a different story.
The lakefront property was worth nearly six million dollars.
The investment accounts contained another four million.
Preston had prepared documents transferring control of Sophie’s trust to himself.
The documents claimed I was financially irresponsible and that Sophie had developed “repeated criminal behavior.”
The accusation at the wedding had never been about a phone.
It was supposed to become evidence.
Preston intended to tell the family attorney that Sophie had stolen expensive property in front of hundreds of witnesses.
My mother would confirm it.
My father would describe me as unstable.
Then they would ask a judge to remove me as trustee.
Detective Brooks placed printed copies on the table.
“The documents were created three weeks ago.”
I looked at my mother.
“You planned this.”
She refused to meet my eyes.
“We were trying to prevent you from destroying your grandmother’s legacy.”
“The legacy she left to Sophie?”
“You do not understand business.”
“I understand theft.”
My mother’s mask finally cracked.
“Preston needs that property for the Whitmore merger.”
Henry Whitmore’s company had agreed to merge with Carter Hospitality.
The lakefront land was intended to secure a massive construction loan.
Without it, the deal could fail.
Preston’s wedding had been designed to unite two powerful families.
My daughter was simply the collateral.
Detective Brooks asked my mother to come with her for questioning.
My mother looked at me one final time.
“You will regret choosing this fight.”
I held Sophie’s hand.
“No.”
“For the first time, I know exactly what I’m choosing.”
After she left, my phone rang.
It was Marcus Hale, my grandmother’s former attorney.
His voice was tense.
“Evelyn, do not sign anything your family sends you.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“It may already be too late.”
My stomach dropped.
May you like
“What do you mean?”
“Someone filed a petition against you yesterday.”
