Chapter 7 - WHAT SHE WANTED
Ethan drove straight from the hospital to Michael’s office after Rosa agreed to stay beside Lily.
He hated leaving her.
But he needed answers.
Michael spread documents across a conference table.
“Your estate plan was amended four months ago.”
Ethan read.
Vivian had been named primary beneficiary of several personal assets.
“If something happened to me?”
“She would control most of your personal estate.”
“And Lily?”
“A trust would remain for Lily.”
Ethan let out a breath.
Then Michael continued.
“But Vivian would have been one of the trustees until Lily turned twenty-five.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You’re kidding.”
“I wish I were.”
“How did she get this through?”
“Some documents use your electronic signature. Some appear notarized.”
“I never signed them.”
“We’ll investigate the notary.”
Ethan leaned back.
Every part of his life suddenly felt contaminated.
His home.
His money.
His marriage.
Even his will.
He remembered Vivian pushing him to update everything.
“We should simplify things,” she had said.
“What if something happens to you?”
At the time, it had sounded responsible.
Now it sounded like a warning.
Michael pushed another page toward him.
“Your life insurance beneficiary was changed too.”
Ethan stared.
“From Lily’s trust?”
“To Vivian.”
“How much?”
“Eight million.”
The room felt colder.
Michael spoke carefully.
“I’m not saying she intended to harm you.”
Ethan looked up.
“But?”
“But I’m saying we document everything.”
Ethan stood.
“I want her nowhere near Lily.”
“Emergency protective order is already being filed.”
“I want her out of the house.”
“The police may handle that before tonight.”
“And the money?”
“We freeze whatever we can.”
Ethan stared out the window.
“How did I miss all this?”
Michael didn’t answer immediately.
Finally he said, “Because fraud works best when it’s committed by someone you trust.”
Ethan’s phone buzzed.
Rosa.
He answered immediately.
“Is Lily okay?”
“Yes, sir. But there is someone here asking questions.”
“Who?”
“A woman.”
“What woman?”
Rosa lowered her voice.
“She says she is Vivian’s mother.”
Ethan frowned.
He had met Eleanor Price several times.
Elegant.
Polite.
Cold.
“She’s at the hospital?”
“Yes.”
“Do not let her near Lily.”
“I won’t.”
Ethan grabbed his coat.
Then Rosa whispered, “Mr. Cole, she says she needs to tell you something before police arrest Vivian.”
“What?”
“She says Vivian has done this before.”
Ethan stopped moving.
“Done what?”
“I don’t know.”
“She won’t tell me.”
Michael was already standing.
Ethan ended the call.
They drove back.
Eleanor was waiting in a private family lounge.
She looked older than Ethan remembered.
Her hands shook.
“You kept me waiting,” she said.
“My daughter is in a hospital because of yours.”
Eleanor looked away.
“I know.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Rosa said you know something.”
Eleanor swallowed.
“Vivian was married before.”
“I know. Briefly.”
“No.”
Eleanor’s eyes lifted.
“She was married twice.”
Ethan felt something shift.
“To whom?”
“The first man was named Andrew Walsh.”
“What happened?”
Eleanor stared at the floor.
“He had a little boy.”
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
“How old?”
“Five.”
“What did Vivian do to him?”
Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears.
“She said the boy was difficult.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“What did she do?”
Eleanor whispered, “The same things.”
Then she reached into her purse.
And pulled out a newspaper clipping.
May you like
The headline made Ethan’s blood turn to ice.
FIVE-YEAR-OLD HOSPITALIZED AFTER MYSTERIOUS OVERDOSE.
