Chapter 9 - The Clause Nobody Read
"Wednesday five years ago?" I asked.
"No." Nathan pointed to the date written under Wallace's note. It was from eight months earlier, three weeks before his father died. "He was going to tell me."
Vega warned us not to guess at a dead man's intentions. We didn't need to. The rest of the folder would explain what Wallace had done.
By morning, Nathan's sister, June, arrived from Boston. She was the only Cole who had ever once asked if I was okay after I left. I had lied and said yes.
"I got your message," June said, looking at Lily asleep in the bed. Her expression softened. "She's beautiful."
"She's scared," I said.
June sat beside me. "I can help with the trust. Dad made me read the family documents when I joined the foundation board."
She explained the clause without dressing it up. Wallace had placed eighteen million dollars in a reserve for any biological grandchild born before his death. If no descendant was formally disclosed, the reserve would be redirected to the Cole Foundation after Nathan's marriage. Victoria was scheduled to become the foundation's executive director, with authority over its investments.
"So she wanted Lily erased from the paperwork," I said.
"Yes," June replied. "Not because Lily would take Nathan's money. Because Lily's existence would stop Victoria and Pierce from controlling it."
Nathan gripped the chair. "And why the fake custody papers?"
"To make Grace look unreliable before she could prove paternity," June said. "Then they could bury her claim in hearings."
Vega's phone chimed. She looked down, then back at me.
May you like
"Grace, a probate filing was submitted this morning. It contains a sworn statement claiming you told Nathan your child was not his."
The signature beneath that statement was Nathan's.
