Chapter 6: The Bride Takes Control
Howard Pike placed the order on the altar.
“You are prohibited from moving, accessing, or discussing the trust without Miss Claire Bennett’s written approval.”
I stared at the seal.
“How can she control anything?
We aren’t married.”
Pike tapped the final page.
“Mr.
Ashford appointed her yesterday.”
Julian’s solicitor opened her case.
“My client signed no such appointment.”
Claire turned to Julian.
“Tell them.”
Julian’s grip tightened on his cane.
“I signed a medical release.
Claire said it would let her obtain records proving Daniel’s identity.”
Pike gave a patient smile.
“You signed several documents.”
“You switched the pages,” Julian said.
“That is a serious accusation.”
“So is fraud,” Eleanor replied.
Claire faced her mother.
“One more word and I’ll release the statements showing you moved money from Dad’s company.”
Eleanor stepped closer.
“Release them.
They show I paid back what you took.”
Claire’s smile vanished.
I picked up the order.
“Why does this say I’m mentally unfit to manage an inheritance?”
Pike adjusted his cuffs.
“Miss Bennett provided evidence of emotional instability.”
“What evidence?”
“Private messages, medical information, and testimony from someone close to you.”
I looked at Claire.
“You used what I told you after my panic episode.”
“I protected you.”
“You called me unfit.”
“Only on paper.”
Vanessa’s phone chimed.
She read the screen and looked toward Claire.
“What did she send you?” Dad asked.
Vanessa held the phone against her chest.
“Nothing.”
Claire’s eyes remained fixed on her.
“Vanessa knows when silence is wise.”
Reverend Bell stepped between them.
“Is she threatening you?”
“No,” Vanessa said too quickly.
Claire walked toward the side room.
“Come help me fix my veil.”
Vanessa did not move.
“Now.”
“I’ll go with her,” I said.
Claire’s smile returned.
“Of course.”
Inside the room, Claire shut the door.
Dad wedged his shoe against it before it could close completely.
Claire lowered her voice.
“Vanessa, I can clear your brother’s debt today.”
“What do you want?”
“Delete the messages and say Eleanor created the flash drive.”
“That’s bribery,” I said.
“That’s loyalty.”
Vanessa glanced at me.
“And if I refuse?”
Claire leaned closer.
“Pike will make sure your brother loses his house.
Your mother lives there too, doesn’t she?”
Vanessa began to cry.
I stepped between them.
“You will not threaten her family.”
Claire’s face hardened.
“Your family threatened mine first.”
Eleanor appeared in the doorway.
“No, Claire.
You have spent years punishing everyone for your father leaving.”
“You made him leave.”
“I asked him to confront you about the money you took.
He chose to protect you and blame me.”
Claire shook her head.
“You always hated me.”
Eleanor’s voice broke.
“I loved you enough to keep paying for your mistakes.
That was my mistake.”
Vanessa wiped her face and raised her phone.
“The recording is still running.”
Claire knocked it from her hand.
Pike rushed in and crushed the phone beneath his shoe.
“There,” he said.
“Problem solved.”
A burst of static sounded through the church speakers.
Reverend Bell’s voice came from outside.
“Not quite.”
Dad pulled the door open.
Every guest was staring at us.
Vanessa’s phone had been connected to the church’s sound system.
Claire recovered first.
“A private recording taken without consent proves nothing.”
Julian’s solicitor held up her own phone.
“But Mr.
Pike destroying evidence in front of forty witnesses may prove rather more.”
Pike backed toward the exit.
The broad-shouldered man who had entered with him stepped into his path and opened his jacket to show his identification.
“Howard Pike, I’m Detective Graham Cole.
We’ve been investigating the forged Ashford filings for six weeks.”
Claire went still.
May you like
The detective turned to her.
“And Miss Bennett, the order you brought into this church was never issued by a judge.”
