Chapter 7: The Aunt Who Wanted Everything
Richard read the message again.
If we can get Margaret removed before the trust review, we won't have to worry about Evelyn's conditions anymore.
Five months.
For five months, his sister had been helping his son destroy his marriage.
Richard lowered himself into the dining chair.
Margaret stood beside him, holding Olivia's screenshot.
"She knew about the trust," Margaret whispered.
Richard nodded.
"Apparently.""
"How?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Only a few people knew about Evelyn's arrangements. Jonathan, the estate trustee, and me.""
"Then how did Susan find out?""
Richard didn't answer.
He was remembering something.
Three years earlier, Susan had asked him to let her review some of Evelyn's old financial documents. She had claimed she wanted to understand what their mother had left behind and whether there were any outstanding family obligations.
Richard had trusted her.
He had given her access to several boxes of paperwork.
He had never considered that she might have copied anything.
"She could have found the original trust papers," he finally said.
Margaret sat opposite him.
"Then she knew exactly what Ethan was trying to accomplish.""
Richard nodded slowly.
"And she knew why he needed you out of the picture.""
His phone rang.
Susan.
He answered and put it on speaker.
"Richard, thank goodness. I've been trying to explain—"
"Don't.""
"Please let me finish.""
"You helped Ethan fabricate evidence against my wife.""
Susan sighed dramatically.
"I helped him because you weren't listening to anyone.""
"Listening to what?""
"That Margaret doesn't belong in our family.""
Richard closed his eyes.
"She's my wife.""
"She's a woman you met six years ago. Evelyn was part of this family for decades.""
"Don't use Evelyn's name to justify what you've done.""
Susan's voice sharpened.
"You have no idea what I've sacrificed for this family.""
Richard stared at the phone.
"What did Ethan promise you?""
Silence.
Then Susan said, "Nothing.""
"Olivia has the messages.""
"That girl doesn't understand the situation.""
"She understands enough to send me evidence.""
Susan lowered her voice.
"Richard, listen carefully. Ethan and I were trying to protect what Evelyn left behind.""
"By planting underwear in my bedroom?""
"That was Ethan's idea.""
"By editing photographs?""
"I never touched the photographs.""
"But you helped arrange them.""
Susan didn't respond.
Richard leaned forward.
"Tell me what you expected to receive.""
Susan gave a bitter laugh.
"You always think everything is about money.""
"Then explain.""
Another silence.
Finally, she said, "Ethan told me he would make sure I received my share of the family properties once the trust was settled.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"Your share?""
"Yes.""
"Those properties belong to me.""
"Not all of them.""
Richard looked toward Margaret.
Susan continued.
"Mother left you the house, the investments, and the business. You inherited everything while I got a small payment and a lifetime of watching you pretend you were the only child who mattered.""
Richard stared at the wall.
Their mother had died twelve years earlier.
Susan had always been bitter about the inheritance.
He had helped her financially on several occasions. He had paid off her mortgage once. He had even given her money to start a small boutique.
Apparently, none of it had been enough.
"You helped Ethan because he promised you property?""
Susan's voice became defensive.
"I helped him because he understood that I deserved something.""
"And Margaret?""
"She was the obstacle.""
Richard's face changed.
"She's a human being, Susan. Not an obstacle.""
Susan laughed.
"Don't act like you've suddenly become a saint.""
Richard ended the call.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the refrigerator humming.
Margaret reached for his hand.
"Richard.""
He looked at her.
"I'm sorry.""
She shook her head.
"You don't have to apologize for your sister.""
"Yes, I do. I kept bringing people into our home who treated you like you didn't belong.""
Margaret squeezed his fingers.
"Then let's make sure this ends.""
The following morning, Olivia arrived at Jonathan's office.
She was thirty-one, with dark hair pulled into a tight bun and a nervous habit of twisting a silver ring around her finger.
She carried a laptop and a thick envelope.
"I brought everything," she said.
Jonathan invited her to sit.
Richard and Margaret were already waiting.
Olivia opened her laptop.
"I worked for Ethan for nearly three years. At first, everything was normal. He handled client accounts, investment reports, and property records.""
"What changed?"" Richard asked.
"About six months ago, he started asking me to collect information about your personal finances.""
Richard frowned.
"What information?""
"Property ownership, bank references, insurance policies, and the value of the investment accounts.""
"Why?""
"He said you were preparing to transfer control of the business to him.""
Richard shook his head.
"I never said that.""
"I know that now.""
Olivia opened a folder.
"Then he started asking about the family trust.""
Jonathan leaned forward.
"What did he ask?""
"Whether the trust protector could be replaced.""
Margaret looked up.
"Could I be replaced?""
Jonathan answered.
"Only under specific circumstances, and not simply because Ethan disliked your decisions.""
Olivia continued.
"Ethan told me Susan had found an old copy of the trust agreement. He said she knew someone who could help challenge the appointment.""
"Who?"" Richard asked.
Olivia hesitated.
"A man named Martin Shaw.""
Jonathan's expression changed.
"Martin Shaw?""
"Yes. He works with Susan.""
Jonathan removed his glasses.
"Martin was involved in a dispute concerning Evelyn's estate years ago. He was never appointed as a trustee.""
Olivia nodded.
"That's what I thought was strange.""
She opened another document.
It was an email from Susan to Ethan.
Martin says the protector can be challenged if we establish that she has a financial interest in the inheritance. We need to make it look like Margaret is trying to control Richard's assets.
Margaret stared at the screen.
"They were going to accuse me of doing exactly what they were doing.""
Olivia nodded.
"Yes.""
Richard leaned back.
"How far did this go?""
Olivia opened another message.
This one was from Ethan.
We need something that makes Dad uncomfortable enough to remove her. The photographs should work. If not, we'll use the letters.
Richard frowned.
"The letters?""
Olivia scrolled.
Susan had replied:
The letters are useful. If we can make Margaret look like she concealed something from Evelyn, Richard will never trust her again.
Margaret looked at Jonathan.
"What were they planning to claim?""
Jonathan opened the original trust file.
"Possibly that Margaret had interfered with Evelyn's personal correspondence or concealed information concerning the estate.""
Richard looked furious.
"They were going to accuse her of stealing letters?""
Olivia nodded.
"I believe so.""
She opened the final email.
It was dated two weeks before the staged photograph.
The subject line read:
*FINAL DISTRIBUTION — PROPOSED ARRANGEMENT.*
The message contained a draft agreement between Ethan and Susan.
If Ethan succeeded in removing Margaret as trust protector, Susan would receive a percentage of the property distribution.
Olivia scrolled to the final page.
There were two signatures.
Ethan Carter.
Susan Carter.
Richard stared at the document.
His sister hadn't been helping his son out of affection.
She had been negotiating her own reward.
That afternoon, Jonathan contacted the independent trustee and requested an emergency review.
Richard also instructed his bank to freeze any pending changes to his financial authorizations.
The attorney explained that the disputed documents would need proper examination and that the trust could not be altered merely because someone made an accusation.
For the first time in weeks, Margaret felt that the truth was finally being handled by people who understood its importance.
But the relief didn't last.
At 5:12 p.m., Susan arrived at the house.
She didn't knock.
She used the spare key Richard had given her years earlier.
Margaret was in the living room when Susan walked in.
"Where's Richard?""
Margaret stood.
"He's in the study.""
Susan looked her up and down.
"Of course you are.""
Margaret didn't move.
"You're not welcome to walk into this house and speak to me like that.""
Susan gave a dismissive laugh.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?""
"No.""
"You've turned my brother against his own family.""
Margaret looked at her steadily.
"You did that yourself.""
Susan's face reddened.
"Don't lecture me.""
Richard appeared in the hallway.
"Susan. Leave.""
Susan turned.
"Richard, we need to talk.""
"We already did.""
"Not properly.""
Richard pointed toward the door.
"You helped Ethan frame my wife.""
"I was trying to protect the family.""
"Which family?""
Susan opened her mouth.
Richard continued.
"You and Ethan had a written agreement to divide property that doesn't belong to either of you.""
Susan's expression changed.
"That document was only a proposal.""
"It was a plan.""
"You're taking everything out of context.""
Richard stepped closer.
"Then explain why you told Ethan to make Margaret look sexually inappropriate so I would remove her from the house.""
Susan's eyes flashed.
"I never said that!""
"Olivia has the messages.""
Susan looked toward the study.
"That girl is a liar.""
Richard shook his head.
"Enough.""
Susan's voice suddenly became softer.
"Richard, please. I'm your sister.""
He stared at her.
"And Margaret is my wife.""
Susan looked at Margaret with open hatred.
"You're going to destroy everything.""
Margaret answered quietly.
"No. I'm simply refusing to let you destroy me.""
Susan grabbed her handbag.
At the door, she turned back.
"There's something you should know, Richard.""
He said nothing.
"Ethan didn't come up with this entire plan himself.""
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?""
Susan looked at Margaret.
"Someone gave him the idea of using the security cameras.""
Margaret felt her stomach tighten.
"Who?""
Susan smiled bitterly.
"Ask your husband's business partner.""
Then she walked out.
Richard remained in the hallway.
Margaret stared at him.
"Your business partner?""
Richard slowly nodded.
May you like
"David.""
And for the first time, the scandal seemed to extend beyond the family.
