Chapter 9 - THE TESTIMONY THAT BROKE THE FAMILY
Margaret testified six weeks later.
Not in a crowded courtroom.
But in a formal recorded proceeding with accommodations for her blindness and physical limitations.
Her attorney sat beside her.
An independent specialist had assessed her ability to understand the proceedings.
She was fully capable of giving testimony.
Margaret described the locked west wing.
The basement apartment.
The threats against Maya.
The fingerprint scanner.
And Liam's attempt to make her sign documents she could not read independently.
When asked whether she understood the proposed transfer, Margaret answered clearly.
“Yes. They wanted to take control of the medical patents my husband and I placed in trust.”
“Did you consent?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
She paused.
“Because those patents were meant to help patients, not enrich people who had forgotten them.”
The testimony was devastating.
But the hardest moment came when Margaret was asked about Liam.
“Do you love your younger son?”
She began to cry.
“Yes.”
“Does that change your account of what happened?”
“No.”
Later, Marcus watched the recording.
He sat alone in his office.
When I arrived, he looked up.
“She still loves him.”
I nodded.
“Of course.”
“After everything?”
“Love doesn't always disappear when trust is broken.”
He looked down.
“I don't know if I can forgive him.”
I sat beside him.
“You don't have to decide that today.”
Marcus nodded.
Then said quietly, “I spent years believing I was protecting my family by giving Liam responsibility.”
“You were trying to trust your brother.”
“And I ignored the signs.”
I didn't contradict him.
Because he had.
Instead, I said, “What matters now is what you do differently.”
He looked at me.
“And what would that be?”
I smiled sadly.
“Listen to your mother. Protect the foundation. And stop believing you have to solve everything alone.”
He laughed softly.
“You make that sound easy.”
“It isn't.”
For a moment, he simply looked at me.
Then he said, “Maya, I think about you more than I should.”
My heart stumbled.
I looked away.
“Marcus.”
“I know.”
He nodded.
“Not while you're working for my family.”
I looked back.
May you like
He smiled faintly.
“I listened.”
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