Chapter 10 - The Guardian
The document was twelve years old.
Alexander recognized the signatures.
His.
Julia's.
Martin Sterling's.
If Alexander and Julia both died, control of Ethan's inherited shares would pass to a designated trustee until Ethan turned twenty-five.
Alexander read the name twice.
"Martin Sterling."
Elena nodded.
"Julia discovered he had never been removed."
"We replaced that estate plan after Ethan was born."
"You replaced the public one. Not the controlling trust amendment filed overseas."
Alexander looked sick.
"So if Julia died, and then I died..."
"Martin would control Ethan's voting shares."
Maria understood. "And Vanessa marrying Alexander would put Martin's daughter inside the house."
Elena looked toward the staircase. "Exactly."
"My father is dead."
Elena studied her. "Are you sure?"
Vanessa slapped the table with her palm. "I watched his memorial."
"So did everyone else."
Alexander asked the question nobody wanted to ask.
"Did your father ever contact you after his plane went down?"
Vanessa's face changed.
A fraction.
Enough.
Brooks leaned forward. "Ms. Sterling?"
Vanessa looked away.
"Once."
The room went silent.
"When?"
"Three years ago."
Alexander's voice became dangerous. "You let me believe he was dead."
"He told me he was hiding from people who wanted to kill him."
"And you believed him?"
"He was my father."
Elena laughed without humor. "He was using you."
"He said Julia tried to destroy our family."
Alexander stood. "Julia died. Your father vanished. You entered my life eighteen months later."
Vanessa whispered, "I didn't know what he had done."
Then Ethan appeared in the doorway holding a crayon drawing.
"Daddy?"
Alexander softened immediately. "What is it?"
Ethan handed him the picture.
A black car.
A woman in red.
And a man with a silver cane.
May you like
Elena stared at it.
"Martin Sterling used a silver cane."
