Chapter 5: The Stepbrother’s Mistake
Back in the mansion, Damon laughed when Olivia placed the documents on the table.
“You expect us to fear paperwork?” he said. “My mother is Edmund’s wife. You are nobody.”
Arthur Reeves entered before Olivia could answer.
Behind him came two investigators and Theo with a laptop in his hand. Nora followed quietly, holding a small velvet box.
Celeste’s face changed.
“You have no right to enter my home,” she snapped.
Arthur raised the trust agreement.
“According to Mrs. Blackwood’s original family trust, Miss Olivia Blackwood has the right to request a full legal and financial review if Mr. Edmund Blackwood is under suspected coercion.”
Damon went pale.
Celeste quickly recovered.
“Ridiculous,” she said. “Edmund already signed a new will.”
Olivia turned to Theo.
Theo opened the laptop and displayed a copy of the will.
“The will was signed at 10:40 p.m.,” Olivia said. “But according to the nurse’s notes, my father had been heavily sedated at 9:15.”
Arthur placed another report beside it.
“And the signature does not match Mr. Blackwood’s handwriting.”
Celeste’s eyes sharpened.
“Private reports mean nothing.”
One investigator stepped forward.
“They mean enough to begin an official investigation.”
The room fell silent.
Then Nora opened the velvet box.
Inside lay the missing pearl necklace.
Olivia forgot how to breathe.
“My mother’s necklace,” she whispered.
Nora looked at Celeste.
“I found it in Mrs. Celeste’s closet one week after Miss Olivia was thrown out. When I tried to tell Mr. Edmund, I was fired.”
Celeste’s face turned white.
Damon stepped back.
May you like
And Olivia finally understood.
The lie that ruined her life had been sitting in that house all along.
