Chapter 6 - Michael Trent Sends Claire Evidence
At 11:43 that night, Claire received an email.
No subject.
One attachment.
A video.
Michael Trent appeared on screen.
He looked older than the photograph Sophia had shown them.
“Claire Bennett, if you’re watching this, someone finally opened the wrong door.”
Claire felt a chill.
Michael said he had spent years investigating Charles Bennett’s hidden accounts.
Not because he wanted the family company.
Because his mother died believing Charles had abandoned them while secretly moving money through accounts in her name.
Michael found evidence she had been used as a nominee without understanding the transactions.
When he joined Bennett Capital, he tried to trace them.
Madeline stopped him.
He admitted dating Sophia under a false name.
He called it shameful.
He had believed Sophia worked closely with Madeline and could lead him to records.
Then he developed feelings for her.
When she ended the relationship, he left.
He denied knowing she might be pregnant.
The video continued.
“The forged documents are not mine.”
Claire leaned closer.
Michael had learned someone was creating false transfers using family signatures.
He believed the goal was to trigger Margaret Bennett’s old protection clause and remove Ethan from company control.
Who benefited?
The independent guardian named in the trust.
Claire looked at Jonathan.
“Who is it?”
Jonathan checked the document.
The current guardian was a law firm partner.
Arthur Sloan.
Madeline’s personal attorney for twenty-two years.
Claire remembered him.
Arthur handled her prenuptial agreement.
Her grandmother’s estate questions.
Even Lucy’s birth trust.
He had access to everything.
Signatures.
Passports.
Property records.
School information.
Michael’s video said:
“Arthur has been moving pieces for years.”
Then he showed bank records.
Payments from Bennett Residential Trust to a Sloan-controlled entity.
The trust that supposedly owned Claire’s mansion had been created through Arthur’s office.
Claire felt anger rising.
“Call the police.”
Rachel already had.
Investigators secured Arthur’s office before dawn.
Arthur was not there.
His assistant said he left two days earlier for London.
Flight records showed no departure.
He had vanished.
Then forensic accountants found something worse.
The mansion sale was scheduled to close through an escrow account controlled by Arthur’s firm.
The unusually fast closing would have converted Claire’s home into liquid cash.
Once Ethan left the country with Lucy, Arthur could petition to activate the family protection clause.
Ethan would appear to be fleeing.
Claire would appear to have consented.
The house money would disappear.
And control of Bennett Capital would shift into a structure Arthur could influence.
But Michael’s video ended with a warning.
“Arthur isn’t doing this alone.”
Claire held her breath.
“He has someone inside your house.”
Everyone looked around.
Nora stood near the staircase.
Rachel near the table.
Jonathan beside the window.
Madeline in the chair.
Sophia on the sofa.
Ethan across from Claire.
Then the security alarm beeped.
A side door had just opened.
Nora checked the panel.
May you like
The access code belonged to Claire.
But Claire had not moved.
