Chapter 6: The Document in His Hands
Ruth did not move.
“That is not the only copy.”
Victor’s fingers tightened.
“You’re bluffing.”
“I drafted the trust.
The original is in my office safe.”
He looked down at the page.
Ruth’s expression did not change.
“You stole a certified copy,” she said.
“Thank you for holding it in front of two hundred witnesses.”
Victor released one edge.
Marcus stepped between him and Maya.
“Put it on the table.”
“Move aside.”
“No.”
Victor glanced toward the exit.
“You think raising her made her yours?”
“No person belongs to another,” Marcus replied.
“That is the difference between us.”
“I gave her life.”
“You came back when you learned what her life was worth.”
Maya covered her mouth.
Caleb approached her from behind.
“We can leave together,” he whispered.
“Forget all of them.”
She turned.
“Did you know Victor planned to take the wedding money?”
“I knew he needed working capital.”
“That money was for our home.”
“He promised to triple it.”
“Did you give him my security code?”
Caleb’s eyes shifted toward Victor.
“Answer her,” Diane said.
Caleb lowered his voice.
“I did it for us.”
Maya removed her engagement ring.
“There is no us.”
He caught her hand.
“You are emotional.
Don’t throw away two years because of one recording.”
Marcus stepped forward, but Maya pulled herself free before he reached them.
“Do not touch me again.”
Caleb’s face hardened.
“If you end this, I will tell everyone you knew about the transfer.”
Diane stared at her son.
“You would blame her?”
“I’m protecting myself.”
“No,” she said.
“You are finally showing me who I raised.”
Caleb looked at Victor.
“Do something.”
Victor placed the document on the table.
“Maya, I can fix this.
Marry Caleb, replace Marcus as trustee, and I will return every dollar.”
“You just admitted you took it,” Marcus said.
“I said I could return it.”
“From where?”
Victor’s silence answered first.
Maya held out her hand.
“Give me your phone.”
“You have no right to it.”
“The money went to your company.
Show me the account.”
Victor slipped the phone deeper into his pocket.
“We can discuss this privately.”
Ruth looked toward the entrance.
“The investigator is here.”
A man in a dark blue suit entered with the venue manager.
Victor immediately picked up the trust document again.
“I want my lawyer.”
“You may call one,” the investigator said.
“First, no one leaves with those records.”
Victor pointed at Helen.
“Ask her about the ten thousand dollars.
Ask Marcus why he never adopted Maya.”
Maya turned sharply.
“You never adopted me?”
Marcus swallowed.
“Victor refused to surrender his parental rights.”
“That is a lie,” Victor said.
“He never asked.”
Ruth opened another folder.
“I sent you six requests over twelve years.”
She laid six certified delivery receipts in a row.
Marcus tapped the first signature.
“That is yours.”
Victor’s face tightened.
“I was preserving my rights.”
“You ignored her but kept the right to return when money appeared,” Helen said.
The investigator held out his hand.
“Your phone, Mr.
Hartwell.”
Victor pressed the side button.
The screen went dark.
“You will need a warrant.”
Diane lifted her device.
“Would an email help?”
“What email?” Caleb asked.
“The one you accidentally copied me on last night.”
Caleb went pale.
Diane read aloud.
“‘After the ceremony, delete the messages and move the trust money before Marcus files an objection.’”
Victor pointed at Caleb.
“He wrote that.”
Caleb spun toward him.
“You told me exactly what to say!”
“Both of you stop,” Maya shouted.
The room fell silent.
She stepped between them, still holding the ring.
“You came here expecting me to be so angry with Marcus that I would sign anything you put in front of me.”
Victor’s voice softened.
“I came because I wanted my daughter back.”
Maya placed the ring beside the forged document.
“You didn’t come back for your daughter.
You came back for her price.”
The investigator’s phone rang.
He listened, then looked at Marcus.
“The receiving bank located the first transfer,” he said.
“The funds were moved again thirty minutes ago.”
“Where?” Marcus asked.
May you like
The investigator looked directly at Victor.
“To an account connected to a one-way flight leaving this afternoon.”
