Chapter 18 - THE TRUST IN NATHANIEL'S NAME
For the next week, lawyers worked around the clock.
The truth was worse than we imagined.
Nathaniel had been named in my father's original trust before he was born.
Not because my father knew him.
Because the trust contained a bloodline clause.
The next child born from my father's recognized line inherited the controlling interest.
Nathaniel.
My four-year-old son.
Clara stared at the documents.
"They wanted him because of this."
I nodded.
"Yes."
Victoria looked at Evelyn.
"Then what happens now?"
Evelyn answered.
"The trust activates when he turns eighteen."
"Until then?"
"Guardian control."
I froze.
"Who is the guardian?"
Nobody answered.
I looked at the document.
Then saw the name.
ELEANOR VANCE.
My mother.
Even from prison, she still controlled the trust.
I laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
Clara's face went white.
"Can we change it?"
"Not without court approval."
Marcus entered.
"We have another problem."
"What?"
"Eleanor filed an emergency petition."
"Already?"
"Yes."
"On what grounds?"
"She claims you are financially unstable."
I almost laughed.
"She's insane."
Marcus shook his head.
"She has evidence."
I looked at him.
"What evidence?"
He placed a folder on the table.
Inside were photographs.
Me drinking.
Me arguing.
Me losing my temper.
All taken years ago.
Before Clara.
Before Nathaniel.
Before everything.
"She built this case years ago."
Clara looked at me.
"Sebastian..."
I understood.
The entire family war had been planned long before the night beneath the table.
My mother's cruelty toward Clara hadn't been random.
The forged documents.
The financial attacks.
The kidnapping.
Everything had been designed to make me look unstable.
To remove me as Nathaniel's guardian.
And if she succeeded...
She would control the trust.
And eventually my son.
I closed the folder.
"No."
Clara looked at me.
"What?"
"We're not fighting her in court."
"Then how?"
May you like
I smiled.
"We make her tell the truth."
