Chapter 5 - THE DOCTOR'S LETTER
The family physician denied writing the letter.
Dr. Samuel Price arrived before midnight.
"That's not my signature."
Lowell looked sick.
"It passed verification."
"Then your verification failed."
Torres bagged the document.
Vanessa's attorney finally arrived and advised her to stop talking.
She listened.
For exactly twelve minutes.
Then Adrian asked one question.
"Why did you need financial authority?"
Vanessa laughed.
"Because someone has to protect this family when you're gone half the year."
"By putting my children in a cage?"
"They are manipulative."
Noah flinched from the staircase.
Adrian saw him and immediately changed tone.
"Go with Marcus, buddy."
Noah shook his head.
"I want to hear."
Torres crouched beside him.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
He stayed.
Vanessa glared at him.
That was a mistake.
Noah spoke.
"She said when Dad signs the papers, we won't matter anymore."
Every adult in the room went still.
Adrian looked at Vanessa.
"What papers?"
Her lawyer said, "Do not answer."
Noah continued.
"She talked to Uncle Owen in the garage."
Vanessa snapped, "Stop lying!"
Lily began crying.
Adrian stepped between them.
"Enough."
Torres turned to Noah.
"Who's Owen?"
"Her brother."
Adrian knew Owen Mercer well enough to dislike him.
A private equity consultant with expensive suits and no visible clients.
Torres asked, "What did you hear?"
Noah thought carefully.
"He said after Dad signs, they can move the shares before anybody notices."
Adrian felt cold.
"Which shares?"
Noah shrugged.
"The kid shares."
Lowell whispered, "Oh, God."
Adrian turned.
"What?"
Lowell sat down.
"If Vanessa became emergency guardian and you were declared incapacitated, she could petition to vote the children's trust shares."
"For how long?"
"Potentially until the court reviewed it."
"Long enough for what?"
May you like
Lowell looked him in the eye.
"Long enough to approve a merger."
