Chapter 18 - THE SECRET SECONDARY WILL
Arthur Vance sat at the kitchen island, placing the heavy legal document on the quartz counter near the framed US flag.
David and Sarah stood beside their mother, their eyes fixed on the yellowed parchment that bore their father's signature.
"Harrison Sterling died two weeks ago in Switzerland, leaving an estate valued at forty million dollars," Arthur explained.
"And because he had no direct children, his 1994 agreement with your father comes into immediate effect," Arthur added.
"What agreement?" David asked, looking between his mother and the stoic Manhattan attorney.
Margaret closed her eyes briefly, letting out a long, heavy breath as old, painful memories resurfaced in her mind.
"Thirty years ago, your father and his brother Harrison co-founded a logistics firm in New York City," Margaret confessed.
"They had a catastrophic falling out when Harrison discovered your father was using company funds for illegal investments," she added.
"That's only half the story, Margaret," Arthur Vance interjected smoothly, turning to page six of the legal document.
"Harrison didn't leave your father... your husband pushed Harrison out of the country using forged bank records," Arthur revealed.
David gasped, staring at his mother in complete disbelief as the saintly image of his late father began to crumble.
"Is this true, Mom? Did Dad forge documents to steal a forty-million-dollar company from his own brother?" David asked.
Margaret stood tall, her silver-grey hair gleaming under the overhead lights as she looked her son straight in the eyes.
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"Your father did what was necessary to protect this family from Harrison’s reckless gambling," Margaret stated without regret.
***
