Chapter 7 - THE WILL HAD A SECOND PAGE
Nine months into the evaluation, Samuel's Cincinnati attorney called.
“There has been a challenge.”
Of course.
My family contested the will.
Not all.
Luke.
Skylar.
My mother.
Two aunts.
They argued Grandpa lacked capacity when creating the Monaco structure.
My father did not join.
Interesting.
The petition claimed:
Samuel became paranoid.
Secretive.
Manipulated by European advisers.
Jade exerted undue influence through years of proximity.
I laughed at that.
I couldn't get Grandpa to replace the office coffee machine.
But legally, allegations mattered.
Margaret was unsurprised.
“Samuel expected this.”
“Did he expect everything?”
“Almost.”
“Annoying.”
“There is a second testament.”
“What?”
“Not another will.”
She handed me a sealed packet.
Video deposition.
Recorded eight months before death.
Samuel sat in his Cincinnati study.
Healthy enough.
Sharp.
Attorney asked:
“Mr. Fletcher, why are you distributing assets unevenly?”
He answered:
“I am not.”
I frowned.
He continued:
“I am distributing different kinds of assets based on different demonstrated preferences.”
Attorney:
“Do you understand Jade Parker may receive control of substantially greater wealth?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because control is not ownership and stewardship is not a prize.”
Then:
“Did Jade influence this plan?”
Grandpa laughed.
“If Jade knew how much I controlled, she would've asked why I still complained about printer toner.”
True.
Attorney:
“Why keep it secret?”
Samuel's face changed.
“Because I wanted one member of my family to meet wealth before wealth had a chance to introduce itself.”
That line hurt.
Then came the second-page twist.
If the domestic heirs challenged Jade's eligibility unsuccessfully—
a portion of their inherited assets would transfer into charitable trusts.
Luke could lose 25 percent.
Skylar's restrictions could extend.
My mother could lose discretionary investment rights.
I stood.
“No.”
Margaret looked up.
“What?”
“Grandpa booby-trapped the will?”
“Penalty clauses.”
“Same thing.”
I was furious.
“They'll think I caused it.”
“You didn't.”
“They'll still think it.”
“Yes.”
“I want to waive enforcement.”
Margaret stared.
“You cannot unilaterally.”
“Can the trust decline to receive?”
“Possibly.”
“Do it.”
“Jade.”
“No.”
This was my first direct break from Samuel's design.
“I will defend my eligibility. I will not profit because my family sued me.”
Margaret studied me.
“You understand Samuel included deterrence for a reason.”
“Yes.”
“And if challenges continue?”
“Then courts handle costs. Not me.”
Prince Adrien later heard.
He asked:
“Why surrender leverage?”
“Because I don't want family punishment becoming trust income.”
He smiled.
“What?”
“Samuel wondered when you'd disagree with him.”
“Did he leave a betting pool for that too?”
“Xavier won.”
I hated Xavier.
Court upheld the will.
Samuel's capacity records were strong.
Independent doctors.
Video testimony.
No undue influence.
My family lost.
The penalty clauses technically activated.
The legacy trust filed waivers where legally possible.
Luke kept his remaining assets.
Skylar kept her house under original restrictions.
My mother retained hers.
They didn't thank me.
I didn't expect it.
Then my father called.
“Can we meet?”
We met in Cincinnati.
Diner.
Not palace.
He looked older.
“Your mother is angry.”
“I know.”
“Luke thinks you humiliated him.”
“I know.”
“Skylar thinks you think she's stupid.”
“I don't.”
He looked surprised.
“I think she's financially inexperienced.”
He smiled slightly.
“Diplomatic.”
“Monaco.”
Then Dad became serious.
“I should've stopped them laughing.”
The will reading.
I remembered his silence.
“Why didn't you?”
“Because I was relieved.”
That surprised me.
“Relieved?”
“I thought Samuel hadn't pulled you deeper into the business.”
“What?”
Dad looked at his coffee.
“I hated what the company did to him.”
There.
Another perspective.
“He missed everything.”
“Birthdays. Mom's surgery. Holidays.”
“Yes.”
“You thought the ticket meant freedom.”
“Yes.”
I sat back.
For the first time, his silence looked different.
Not cruelty.
Misunderstanding.
“I wish you'd told me.”
“I know.”
Then he said:
“I joined your mother in plenty of things I shouldn't have. But I didn't challenge the will.”
“I noticed.”
“I don't want your money.”
My eyes filled unexpectedly.
“Okay.”
“I want my daughter.”
That almost broke me.
We talked for three hours.
May you like
Not fixed.
Started.
