Chapter 10 - The False Affidavit
The forged affidavit changed the case.
Now the plan was clear.
Victoria and Charles had not only been building a story against Lily.
They had been building one against everyone who could protect her.
If Lily was removed, the person controlling her placement could ask the court for financial authority.
Not unrestricted access.
But enough to create fees.
Money could leak slowly.
Legally-looking theft.
Rachel called it:
“Extraction by paperwork.”
Arthur hated the phrase because it was accurate.
Police traced the forged affidavit metadata.
Created on Victoria’s laptop.
Uploaded from a public Wi-Fi network near the courthouse.
Then investigators found draft affidavits for Margaret too.
One claimed she was too old.
Another claimed she drank heavily.
But plausible enough to force hearings.
Victoria had prepared a version of reality for every person in Lily’s life.
Then Reed found a folder labeled:
A.B. OUTBURSTS.
Videos of Arthur angry.
Arthur slamming an office door.
Arthur yelling during a business call.
Arthur crying after Grace’s funeral.
Removed from context.
Victoria planned to use them to show instability.
Arthur watched one.
Then turned it off.
“I gave her material.”
Reed answered:
“Everyone has bad moments.”
“She built a case out of mine.”
“Yes.”
Then he added:
“That doesn’t mean you ignore what’s real.”
His grief had made him absent.
His work had made him unavailable.
His avoidance had helped Victoria.
He had to own that without accepting her crimes as his fault.
At the next hearing, the judge dismissed Charles’s emergency petition and referred the forged affidavit for investigation.
Victoria’s attorney requested a private meeting.
Rachel refused without conditions.
Everything recorded.
Everything through counsel.
In the conference room, she looked exhausted.
Arthur sat across from her.
She said:
“You think Grace was a saint?”
Arthur’s expression did not change.
“No.”
Victoria looked surprised.
“She was suspicious. Stubborn. Sometimes controlling.”
Victoria leaned back.
“Then why are you treating her notes like scripture?”
“I’m not.”
Arthur slid the bank records forward.
“I’m treating these like bank records.”
For once, he had not taken the emotional bait.
Then she said:
“Ask Elena who Lily’s real guardian is.”
Arthur froze.
“What are you talking about?”
May you like
Victoria smiled faintly.
“Grace changed more than the trust.”
