Chapter 6 - The Engagement Contract
Ethan ended the engagement that night.
Vanessa refused to believe him.
"You're choosing your mother over me?"
He stood in the empty ballroom while staff removed flowers around us.
"No. I'm choosing the person you showed me you are."
She laughed bitterly.
"Because of a hose?"
"Because you enjoyed it."
That landed.
Patricia rushed over.
"Ethan, don't make permanent decisions while emotions are high."
I said, "That's good advice. You should have given it to your daughter before she attacked a stranger for sport."
George ignored me and pulled Ethan aside.
"We have signed commitments. The wedding venue, vendors, the Atlanta partnership—"
Ethan frowned.
"What partnership?"
George froze.
There it was again.
Documents everyone seemed to know about except Ethan.
We found them in the engagement planning binder upstairs.
Buried behind florist contracts was a draft prenuptial side letter.
It said that after marriage, Ethan would establish a joint family investment vehicle with Vanessa. That vehicle would be granted first-look participation in Carter Meridian deals sourced by Mitchell Development.
Ethan stared at the page.
"I never agreed to this."
George said, "It's a draft."
"My initials are on page three."
They looked convincing.
They were not his.
I had watched my son sign his name since he was six.
I knew every impatient angle.
Patricia said, "The planner probably copied something by mistake."
I turned to her.
"Planners don't forge investment documents."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"You're making us sound like criminals."
I looked at the fake initials.
"Then let's hope the facts disagree with me."
My phone buzzed.
Security had traced Martin Sloane's download activity.
He had accessed one more file before losing his credentials.
May you like
My personal succession plan.
The document that named Ethan as the person who would control Carter Meridian voting shares if I died or became incapacitated.
