Chapter 10 - PRESTON’S DEAL
Preston was formally arrested forty-eight hours after the wedding.
The charges started with aggravated battery.
Then came evidence tampering.
Conspiracy.
Financial crimes remained under investigation.
My father was questioned again.
My mother hired an attorney.
Vanessa hired another.
Michael cooperated.
Then Preston asked for a deal.
Detective Ortiz called me before prosecutors responded.
“He wants to provide information about the trust.”
“In exchange for what?”
“Reduced exposure on financial charges.”
“What about what he did to Sophie?”
“That charge remains.”
“Good.”
I had no interest in helping Preston.
But I had every interest in hearing him turn on the people who had protected him.
His interview lasted four hours.
I did not attend.
Naomi did.
When she came to my apartment that evening, her expression was grim.
“He blamed your father.”
“Of course.”
“He also blamed Vanessa.”
“Expected.”
“And your mother.”
I poured coffee.
“Still expected.”
Naomi did not smile.
“He says your mother came up with the wedding plan.”
My hand froze.
I set the coffee down.
“The whole thing?”
“He says she suggested using the phone.”
I stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because it was valuable enough to create outrage but small enough to plant.”
I felt sick.
Naomi continued.
“Your father added the bracelet.”
“The medication?”
“Vanessa’s idea.”
My eyes snapped up.
“She lied.”
“Yes.”
“What was the medication supposed to prove?”
“That Sophie stole impulsively.”
I gripped the counter.
Naomi continued.
“The idea was that three stolen objects would look like a pattern.”
“And then?”
“You defend Sophie.”
“I get angry.”
“Guests record it.”
“They call me unstable.”
“Yes.”
“And then they file the competency petition.”
“Yes.”
I stared out the window.
“What did Preston say about the board?”
Naomi’s voice softened.
“He claims he only meant to scare you.”
“By raising it over my daughter?”
“He says he was aiming beside her.”
I turned around.
“He hit her.”
“I know.”
“He saw the blood and called her a thief.”
“I know.”
“Don’t repeat his excuses to me.”
Naomi nodded.
“You’re right.”
I pressed both palms against the counter.
“Anything else?”
“Yes.”
She placed a folder on the table.
“Preston claims your father already knew the trust transfer would violate your grandfather’s restrictions.”
“That’s not surprising.”
“He says your father was afraid you would audit the accounts.”
“I didn’t even know I could.”
“Someone did.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“Someone requested copies of the trust records under your authorization six months ago.”
“That wasn’t me.”
“I know.”
“Then who?”
“That’s what we’re investigating.”
She opened the folder.
Inside was an authorization form.
My name.
My signature.
Except I had not signed it.
“They forged my signature?”
“Yes.”
“Why request records in my name?”
“To see what you would discover if you ever started asking questions.”
My heart began pounding.
A rehearsal.
They had pretended to be me so they could predict what I might eventually uncover.
Naomi turned the page.
“And they found something.”
“What?”
“An account your grandfather established separately.”
“How much?”
“Current value?”
She looked at me.
“Approximately twelve million dollars.”
I almost laughed because the number felt absurd.
“Who controls it?”
Naomi’s expression changed.
“You do.”
“Why?”
“It was designed for the education, housing, and long-term welfare of your descendants.”
“Sophie.”
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“Can Preston access it?”
“No.”
“My father?”
“No.”
“My mother?”
“No.”
Naomi closed the folder.
“And that is why the financial plan changed.”
I looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“If you were declared incompetent, a court-appointed guardian might temporarily manage your authority.”
I felt cold.
“And if they controlled the guardian?”
“They could petition for broader access.”
I stared at the folder.
They had not simply wanted the existing trust.
They wanted Sophie’s future.
May you like
The little girl they called a thief had twelve million dollars legally protected for her benefit.
And the people attacking her had spent months trying to find a way around that protection.
