Chapter 15 - THE MAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD
Adrian explained everything.
He had disappeared because Vivian's network had become too dangerous.
He had faked his death with help from Elliott.
For eight years, he had been tracking the remaining members of the old conspiracy.
“I couldn't come back.”
“Why?” Sable asked.
“Because they were watching you.”
Marlo stared at him.
“Why me?”
“Because Elliott believed you could finish the restoration.”
Sable stepped forward.
“You manipulated my daughter.”
“No.”
“You broke into our house.”
“I wanted her to find the truth.”
“You terrified her.”
Adrian lowered his eyes.
“I miscalculated.”
Weston stepped between them.
“You don't get another chance.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Your father knew I was alive.”
“My father?”
“Elliott.”
Weston froze.
“He arranged everything.”
Adrian handed him a letter.
Weston read it.
His face changed.
Elliott had written that he didn't trust Weston to fight the Callaways.
But he trusted him to love Sable.
That was why Weston was included.
Not as an heir.
As a guardian.
Sable looked at Weston.
“You knew none of this.”
“No.”
He looked devastated.
“I wish I had.”
Marlo suddenly asked:
“What happens now?”
Adrian answered.
“The company has one remaining legal problem.”
“What?”
“The original partnership can be restored.”
“But only if all surviving descendants agree.”
Marlo looked at the documents.
“How many?”
“Four.”
“Who are they?”
Adrian counted.
“Your family.”
“Mine.”
“Another branch in California.”
“And one in Ireland.”
Sable frowned.
“Why haven't they done this before?”
“Because one of them disappeared.”
“Who?”
Adrian looked at Marlo.
“Your grandmother.”
Marlo stared.
“What?”
“She is the final surviving signatory.”
Sable felt sick.
Her mother hadn't merely known the truth.
She had possessed the power to end the dispute.
The entire family history suddenly looked different.
They returned to Cincinnati.
Sable confronted her mother.
“You're the final signatory.”
Her mother cried.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you sign?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That restoring the partnership would expose what I did.”
“You helped them.”
“Yes.”
“You helped destroy our family.”
“I know.”
Sable's voice softened.
“Then help rebuild it.”
Her mother stared at her.
“I don't deserve forgiveness.”
“No.”
Sable reached for the document.
“But you can still do the right thing.”
Her mother signed.
The original partnership was restored.
Callaway Holdings would be restructured permanently.
But then Adrian revealed the final complication.
“There is one more clause.”
“What?”
“If the heir is under eighteen, the trust must appoint a guardian.”
Sable looked at Marlo.
“She is sixteen.”
Adrian nodded.
“And someone else has already claimed guardianship.”
“Who?”
Adrian handed her the document.
Sable read the name.
May you like
Her face went white.
Weston Callaway.
