Chapter 8 - THE ATTORNEY WHO SERVED THE FORTUNE.
Charles Beckett had spent the entire evening pretending to be surprised by documents he had helped create.
The recording showed him presenting James with a false resignation form for Elena’s trust appointment.
When James refused to sign, Margaret ordered the nurse to increase his sedative.
Charles argued that the action was necessary to prevent James from making irrational changes to the family structure.
Margaret called it preserving the Vale legacy.
James called it theft.
He warned Charles that copies of the housing records had already been placed inside the mansion.
The video ended before revealing where.
Charles attempted to explain that he had followed instructions from the controlling trustee.
Daniel reminded him that attorneys were not required to participate in fraud simply because rich clients requested elegant paperwork.
The mansion guests began distancing themselves from Charles.
Several had used his firm.
They feared the recordings might contain their secrets too.
Elena noticed how quickly old friendships disappeared when consequences entered the room.
Charles offered to cooperate in exchange for protection.
He claimed Margaret was not the highest authority behind the housing transfers.
The redevelopment plan involved judges, city officials, donors, and board members who benefited from properties being emptied cheaply.
Some of those people were standing beneath the chandelier.
The wealthy guests who had watched Elena fall now hurried toward the doors.
Daniel ordered security to keep the exits open but record every name.
He would not hold anyone by force.
He also would not allow them to pretend they had never attended.
Margaret accused her son of destroying generations of influence for a wife who might leave him afterward.
Elena answered before Daniel could.
“Whether I stay married has nothing to do with whether the truth comes out.”
The sentence hurt Daniel, but he accepted it.
Protecting Elena did not entitle him to forgiveness for everything he had failed to see.
Mr. Hale opened the old ledger to a page listing redevelopment partners.
Beside each company was a percentage.
One line was marked only with the initials E.V.
Margaret said the initials belonged to Elena Vale.
She claimed Elena had quietly accepted a share of the redevelopment profits before turning against the family.
A bank transfer supported the accusation.
Five hundred thousand dollars had been deposited into an account under Elena’s name.
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Elena stared at the record in disbelief.
Then Ruth whispered, “That account existed before Elena married Daniel.”
