Chapter 8 - The ChapelThe old Vance chapel stood behind a wall of dead ivy.
Built in 1892.
Abandoned on every public record.
Yet the lights were on.
Julian and I approached the entrance.
Khloe had wanted to come.
I refused.
The message had demanded both parents.
And if someone wanted to hurt Elena, I needed them to believe they had complete control.
We entered.
The chapel smelled of old wood and candle wax.
At the altar stood Vivienne Vance.
Elegant.
Immaculate.
Calm.
She wore black.
Not mourning black.
Power black.
Mia was beside her.
And behind them stood two men.
One held Elena.
My daughter was asleep.
My heart nearly broke.
“Give her to me.”
Vivienne smiled.
“Still dramatic.”
“She’s my daughter.”
“She is a Vance.”
I stepped forward.
“And that makes her mine.”
Vivienne laughed softly.
“That's where you're wrong.”
Julian stood beside me.
“Mother.”
She looked at him.
“My son.”
“You kidnapped a baby.”
“I protected the family.”
“You threatened Clare.”
“I warned her.”
Khloe would have called it monstrous.
I called it predictable.
I pulled the trust documents from my bag.
“Here.”
Vivienne smiled.
“Smart girl.”
She opened the folder.
“Sign the trustee resignation.”
I looked at Julian.
He gave the smallest shake of his head.
He knew.
There would be no negotiation.
I picked up the pen.
Vivienne relaxed.
Mia watched silently.
I signed.
Clare Vance.
My signature.
Vivienne took the document.
Then she looked at it.
And frowned.
“This isn't a resignation.”
I smiled.
“No.”
I had signed a photocopy.
Not the original.
Vivienne's face changed.
I held up the real document.
“The original trustee agreement is protected by a biometric seal.”
Khloe had taught me well.
“Your copy means nothing.”
Vivienne turned to Julian.
“You brought her here?”
“I didn't know.”
“You're useless.”
Julian looked at me.
I whispered:
“Now.”
He lunged.
The two guards moved.
A fight erupted.
One guard hit Julian.
I screamed.
Vivienne grabbed Elena.
I went after her.
For one terrifying second, my daughter was in Vivienne's arms.
Then a side door burst open.
Khloe's security team stormed inside.
Vivienne froze.
Khloe walked toward her.
“Mrs. Vance.”
Vivienne smiled.
“You can't arrest me.”
“No.”
Khloe held up her phone.
“But I can subpoena you.”
The chapel filled with police sirens.
Vivienne finally understood.
We had recorded everything.
Every threat.
Every demand.
Every admission.
She looked at me.
“You think you've won?”
I took Elena back.
“She’s safe.”
Vivienne's smile returned.
“For now.”
She leaned closer.
“You haven't seen what happens when the family knows the truth.”
Then she whispered:
“Your father left something else.”
I froze.
“What?”
She smiled.
“Ask Julian why your father really died.”
Then the police took her away.
I held Elena tightly.
Julian stood beside me, bleeding from his lip.
“You knew?”
I asked.
He looked down.
“Yes.”
My heart shattered.
“You knew my father was murdered?”
“I suspected.”
“You let me believe he died in an accident.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Everyone says that.”
He looked at Elena.
“I failed.”
I turned away.
Then Khloe approached.
“We have another problem.”
“What now?”
“The board is meeting tomorrow morning.”
“So?”
“They're voting to remove you as trustee.”
I almost laughed.
“They can't.”
Khloe looked serious.
“They may have found a legal loophole.”
“What loophole?”
She handed me a document.
A marriage-based removal clause.
It claimed that a trustee married to an executive beneficiary could be considered conflicted.
Julian was the executive beneficiary.
My own husband.
The clause looked devastating.
Until I noticed one thing.
A handwritten amendment was attached.
Signed by my father.
And at the bottom were four words:
Marriage shall not invalidate this.
I looked at Khloe.
“Then we're safe.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
She pointed at the signature.
“It was notarized yesterday.”
I stared.
My father had died nine years ago.
Someone had forged his signature.
Again.
May you like
And this time, whoever did it had access to the original notary archive.
Someone inside the legal system was helping them.
