Chapter 3 - The Sealed Codicil
Mark stared at the envelope on the mahogany table, his breathing heavy and ragged.
Eleanor rushed forward, her tailored trousers rustling as she snatched the document before her son could touch it.
"This is a forgery!" Eleanor roared, tearing the red wax seal with her manicured fingernails.
"Check the signature, Eleanor," Clara replied, stepping back toward the grand foyer. "It was notarized in Boston three days ago."
As Eleanor scanned the second page, all color drained from her face, leaving her pale under the warm recessed lights.
Mark grabbed the paper from his mother's hand, his eyes scanning the dense legal text line by line.
"The Sterling Logistics Empire... 51% controlling interest..." Mark muttered in sheer disbelief.
"Conditioned on one single clause," Clara added, pausing near the archway. "If any member of the Sterling family poses a physical threat to the heir, full voting power transfers instantly to her legal guardian."
"You set us up," Mark whispered, looking up from the page with dark, venomous eyes.
"You brought my daughter into this house to humiliated her," Clara countered, her grip tightening around Lily's waist. "You set yourselves up."
Outside, the heavy rumble of thunder echoed across the suburban Connecticut skyline, shaking the floorboards beneath their feet.
May you like
The front door clicked open as two men in dark suits stepped into the grand foyer, holding leather briefcases.
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