Chapter 7 - The Family Dinner
Patricia claimed Richard had sent the message because he feared Evelyn would upset me during pregnancy.
Nobody believed her.
Not even Daniel.
But suspicion was not enough for an arrest, and Patricia refused to unlock her phone without a warrant.
Before leaving, she took Daniel aside.
I stood close enough to hear her whisper, "Your father wants everyone at the house tonight."
Daniel laughed coldly. "Tell him no."
"He said if Claire doesn't come, he'll release the trust documents tomorrow morning."
Daniel's face changed.
"What trust?" I asked.
Patricia looked annoyed that I'd heard.
At seven that evening, against every sensible instinct I had, we drove to the Bennett estate in Weston.
I agreed for one reason: Detective Alvarez had a team nearby, and Evelyn's flash drive was now in police custody.
Richard Bennett sat at the head of a twelve-seat dining table under a chandelier that probably cost more than my childhood home.
He looked smaller than I remembered. Gray skin. Oxygen line. But his eyes were sharp.
"Claire," he said warmly. "You look beautiful."
"You had me followed."
He sighed. "Sit down."
"No."
Daniel stayed beside me.
Patricia poured water with shaking hands.
Richard looked at Evelyn. "You always did enjoy dramatic entrances."
She smiled without humor. "You always did mistake survival for drama."
Richard ignored her and slid a folder toward me.
Inside was a trust agreement created three years before I met Daniel.
Beneficiary: Daniel Bennett's future biological child.
Controlling trustee until age twenty-five: Richard Bennett.
My daughter wasn't even born and he had already built a cage around her money.
"Why?" I asked.
Richard leaned back.
"Because the Mercer claim never went away."
My heart thudded.
"What claim?"
He looked almost pleased.
"Your grandfather never legally sold us the building."
Daniel stood so fast his chair hit the floor.
May you like
Richard continued calmly.
"And if Claire proves it, half this family fortune becomes hers."
