Chapter 3 - THE LETTER WRITTEN BEFORE THE PARTY.
The letter said Adrian’s father, Charles Whitmore, had discovered Victoria diverting employee funds months before his death.
He feared she would target Maya because Maya’s mother, Elena, had preserved the original estate trust.
Victoria laughed.
“Charles was medicated and confused. You are letting a servant’s daughter turn grief into leverage.”
Maya’s voice sharpened.
“You call every poor witness confused after they understand your accounts.”
The trust revealed that Elena had not been merely a housekeeper. During the family’s bankruptcy twenty-five years earlier, she invested her savings and organized staff members to keep the mansion from foreclosure.
In return, workers received protected ownership shares.
Victoria later erased their names and relabeled the payments as voluntary contributions.
Adrian stared at the ballroom beyond the kitchen.
“This party was paid for by people we made serve it.”
Then he reached the final paragraph.
Charles had appointed Maya temporary trustee of the employee shares.
But the appointment required proof she was Elena’s legal daughter.
Victoria smiled again.
“You have no birth certificate.”
May you like
Maya opened the bowl’s black base.
A hidden compartment released one folded document.
