Chapter 4 - The Clause
Lucas learned about the trust ten days later.
Not from Rebecca.
From his attorney.
Ian Brooks had represented the Bennett family for twelve years.
He was the kind of lawyer who disliked surprises and distrusted anyone who enjoyed them.
When Lucas entered Ian's office, the attorney placed a thick file on the desk.
"I need you to read this before the wedding."
Lucas sat.
"What is it?"
"Anna's father's estate."
Lucas frowned.
"That was settled years ago."
"Most of it."
Ian opened the file.
"There is a separate trust established for Sophie."
Lucas stared at him.
"I know she has an education fund."
"This isn't an education fund."
Ian pushed a page across the desk.
"The Dawson Family Trust currently holds approximately twenty-six million dollars in financial assets, the Lake Mercer property, and a minority position in Dawson Medical Technologies."
Lucas stared at the numbers.
"Why didn't I know?"
"Because Anna's father created restrictions."
Ian pointed to a section.
"Anna was primary beneficiary. Sophie became successor beneficiary when Anna died."
Lucas read.
"And me?"
"You have no ownership interest."
"Good."
Ian looked up.
"That's not the strange part."
"What is?"
"The trust requires a mandatory independent audit if Sophie's surviving parent remarries before Sophie turns eighteen."
Lucas slowly leaned back.
"Why?"
"Protection against conflicts involving a new spouse."
Lucas gave a humorless laugh.
"Anna's father didn't trust anyone."
"Apparently not."
"What happens after the audit?"
"If everything is normal, nothing. The assets remain protected for Sophie."
"And if something isn't normal?"
"Any unauthorized transfers, forged documents, or attempted changes trigger court supervision."
Lucas looked at him.
"Has someone tried to change something?"
Ian hesitated.
"That's why I asked you here."
He showed Lucas two documents.
Both appeared to carry Lucas's signature.
One petition requested that Rebecca Whitmore become alternate guardian of Sophie after marriage.
The second requested authority for Rebecca to participate in certain trust decisions.
Lucas stared.
"I've never seen these."
"I didn't think so."
"Where did they come from?"
"Whitmore Legal Group."
Lucas's stomach tightened.
Rebecca's father.
Charles.
"When?"
"Three months ago."
Lucas stood.
"Why wasn't I told?"
"We rejected them because the signatures couldn't be independently verified. Charles said you were traveling."
Lucas remembered.
Rebecca had brought him several wedding-related documents during a late business meeting.
He had signed without reading all of them.
Had those papers been included?
"Ian, I may have signed something."
"These?"
"I don't know."
Ian watched him.
"That's a dangerous answer."
Lucas sat again.
"What do you think is happening?"
"I don't know yet."
Ian tapped another document.
"But there's something else."
A transfer of $1.8 million had been attempted from one of the Dawson trust subsidiaries.
Seven years earlier.
Two weeks before Anna's death.
The transfer was blocked.
The authorization request came from a consulting company.
Whitmore Strategic Partners.
Lucas felt cold.
"Charles?"
"His company."
"Did Anna know?"
"She was the person who blocked the transfer."
Lucas stopped breathing.
Ian continued.
"Three days later Anna requested a forensic audit."
"And then she died."
"Yes."
Lucas stared through the office window.
Anna's accident had been ruled weather-related.
There had been no evidence of another vehicle.
No criminal suspicion.
No reason to connect it to finances.
"Does Margaret know?"
Ian nodded.
"She contacted me yesterday."
Lucas turned sharply.
"Margaret?"
"She says she's been trying to reach you for years."
Lucas's chest tightened.
"Rebecca said Margaret wanted nothing to do with me."
Ian said nothing.
Lucas understood what the silence meant.
He left the office early.
On the drive home he called Margaret.
No answer.
He called again.
Voicemail.
At Rosewood Mansion, Rebecca was directing caterers in the ballroom.
Lucas watched her from the doorway.
She smiled when she saw him.
"You're home early."
"I met Ian."
The smile remained.
"About what?"
"Anna's trust."
For the first time, Rebecca did not immediately respond.
Then she laughed softly.
"That old thing?"
Lucas stared.
"You know about it?"
"Your accountant mentioned it months ago."
"My attorney says your father submitted guardianship paperwork with my signature."
Rebecca's eyes widened convincingly.
"What?"
"Did you know?"
"No."
"Rebecca."
"I said no."
She stepped closer.
"My father handles hundreds of family estate documents. Maybe his office prepared something you requested."
"I didn't."
"Then ask him."
"I will."
She touched his chest.
"Lucas, do you really think I care about Sophie's money?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
Her eyes filled with tears.
That made him feel guilty.
Rebecca saw it.
She stepped back.
"I have spent two years trying to become part of a family that still treats me like an intruder."
"That's not fair."
"Isn't it?"
Lucas rubbed his forehead.
"I'm asking questions."
"And I'm tired of being questioned for loving you."
She walked away.
Lucas stood alone in the ballroom.
Upstairs, Sophie heard Rebecca enter the master suite twenty minutes later.
A drawer slammed.
Then another.
Sophie crept into the hallway.
Rebecca was speaking on the phone.
"He knows about the trust."
Charles answered loudly enough for Sophie to hear one sentence.
"Then the wedding can't be delayed."
Rebecca lowered her voice.
"What about Margaret?"
"Keep her away."
"And Sophie?"
There was a pause.
Then Charles said something Sophie could not hear.
Rebecca looked toward the hallway.
Sophie ducked behind the wall.
May you like
When she looked again, Rebecca was holding Anna's missing letter.
And a box of matches.
