Chapter 6 - Why Doreen Wanted Owen
Leah stopped confronting Nathan.
Instead, she started listening.
She smiled at Dr. Rusk.
She answered Dr. Price calmly.
She ate.
She slept whenever possible.
She thanked nurses.
She documented everything.
And she waited.
Two days later, Simone returned.
Not as a patient.
As a visitor.
She carried flowers and acted as though she had simply become friends with Leah during their hospital stay.
When they were alone, Simone locked the bathroom door.
“I found something.”
She opened her phone.
“My family owns a private investigations company.”
Leah stared at her.
“You said you were at a wellness retreat.”
Simone rolled her eyes.
“I also told my boyfriend that.”
“Why?”
“Long story.”
“Short version.”
Simone sighed.
“My boyfriend is married.”
Leah stared.
Simone lifted one hand.
“I said it was a long story.”
Despite everything, Leah almost laughed.
Simone opened a document.
“Doreen created a trust seven months ago.”
Leah leaned closer.
“The Carver Legacy Trust.”
“So?”
“The beneficiary is Nathan’s first biological male child.”
Leah’s eyes narrowed.
“Owen?”
“Yes.”
“What does the trust contain?”
“About twenty-six million dollars.”
Leah stared at her.
“That makes no sense.”
“Nathan told me his family had money, but not that kind of money.”
“It isn’t Doreen’s money.”
Simone enlarged another document.
“It belonged to Nathan’s grandfather.”
Leah read the clause.
Upon the birth of Nathan Carver’s first legitimate male descendant, ownership of a collection of commercial properties would transfer into a trust for the child.
Until the child turned twenty-five, the appointed guardian would control the assets.
Leah looked at Simone.
“Doreen wants to be his guardian.”
“Exactly.”
“But Nathan is his father.”
Simone’s expression darkened.
“That’s the interesting part.”
She swiped again.
“Nathan owes almost four million dollars.”
Leah felt the room tilt.
“To who?”
“Private lenders.”
“That’s impossible.”
“It isn’t.”
Simone lowered her voice.
“He’s been gambling.”
Leah closed her eyes.
Suddenly Nathan’s late nights made sense.
The unexplained withdrawals.
The secret credit cards.
The constant tension.
Doreen wasn’t rescuing Leah.
May you like
She was rescuing Nathan.
And Owen was the money.
