Chapter 4 - THE CLAUSE THEIR FATHER HID
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
Clara gave them the security footage.
She gave them the stolen folder.
She gave them the key.
And she gave them Victoria’s handwritten notes.
Victoria protested every second.
“This family is trying to destroy me!”
Clara remained silent.
Daniel did not.
“You did that yourself.”
When the officers escorted Victoria outside for questioning, she turned toward Daniel.
“You’re making the biggest mistake of your life.”
Daniel stared at her.
“My biggest mistake was giving you a ring.”
The front door closed.
Daniel sank onto the staircase.
Clara sat beside him.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Daniel whispered.
“How stupid am I?”
“You trusted someone.”
“She was using me.”
“Yes.”
“I was going to marry her.”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at his sister.
“You could make me feel slightly better.”
Clara gave him a tired smile.
“I could.”
“But you won’t.”
“No.”
He laughed despite himself.
Then Clara became serious.
“We have a larger problem.”
She opened the stolen folder.
Inside was a copy of an amendment their father had drafted six months before his death.
Daniel had never seen it.
The amendment contained an unusual provision.
If Clara died, resigned, or became legally incapable of serving as head trustee, control would temporarily transfer to Daniel.
But if Daniel married, his spouse could receive proxy authority over a portion of his voting interests under specific circumstances.
Daniel stared at the page.
“Why would Dad write this?”
“He didn’t.”
Clara pointed toward the signature.
“It looks like his signature.”
“It isn’t.”
Daniel leaned closer.
“How can you tell?”
“Dad never signed Edward.”
“He signed E. Vance.”
“Every single time.”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“So this is forged.”
“Probably.”
“And Aunt Evelyn wanted Victoria to steal it?”
“No.”
Clara turned to the final page.
“She wanted Victoria to replace something.”
Daniel frowned.
Clara compared the page numbers.
Seven.
Eight.
Ten.
Page nine was missing.
Victoria had not simply taken documents.
She had exchanged them.
Clara walked toward the east-wing study.
Daniel followed.
Inside, they opened the trust archive.
Clara searched for the certified original amendment.
It was gone.
In its place sat another copy containing their father’s forged signature.
Daniel whispered.
“If Victoria married me…”
Clara finished the thought.
“And something happened to me…”
“Victoria could gain influence over your voting rights.”
Daniel went pale.
“How much influence?”
“Enough.”
“For what?”
“To help Evelyn take control of Vance Holdings.”
Daniel stared at his sister.
Then another realization struck him.
“Remove Clara before marriage.”
Clara looked at him.
The words no longer sounded like a corporate instruction.
They sounded like a threat.
Daniel immediately locked the study.
“You’re not staying here tonight.”
“This is my house too.”
“I don’t care.”
“Daniel.”
“No.”
His voice shook.
“If they need you removed before the wedding, I’m not treating that like a metaphor.”
Clara wanted to argue.
Then her phone buzzed.
An unknown number had sent a photograph.
Clara opened it.
The photograph showed her arriving at the mansion that morning.
Taken from across the street.
May you like
Beneath it was a message.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED AWAY, CLARA.
