Victoria turned toward Malcolm.
“This is absurd.”
“My husband would never leave control of his company to a child.”
“He didn’t.”
Malcolm looked at Samantha.
“He left it to a twenty-year-old woman.”
Victoria laughed.
Sharp.
Desperate.
“You expect her to run a holding company because she washes dishes?”
Samantha flinched.
Malcolm did not.
“No.”
“I expect the professional management team Richard established to continue running operations.”
“Samantha holds trust voting authority.”
“She does not need to personally negotiate hotel leases tomorrow morning.”
Victoria stared.
“You manipulated him.”
Malcolm’s eyes cooled.
“Richard drafted these provisions with three separate attorneys and a fiduciary consultant.”
“He anticipated precisely this argument.”
For the first time, Samantha wondered what her father had known.
Not vaguely.
Exactly.
She looked at Evelyn.
The housekeeper lowered her eyes.
Malcolm removed another document.
“There is an additional provision.”
Victoria stopped.
That was when Samantha understood.
This was the part her mother feared most.
Malcolm read:
“Upon Samantha Collins reaching age twenty, temporary stewardship rights held by Victoria Collins shall either continue as a minority advisory interest or terminate according to the welfare clause set forth herein.”
Victoria whispered:
“Don’t.”
Malcolm looked up.
“You knew the clause existed.”
Olivia stared at her mother.
“You knew?”
Victoria said nothing.
Malcolm continued.
“The clause states that if Samantha is compelled to serve within the household in a manner inconsistent with her status as a family beneficiary, deliberately denied reasonable education, prevented from accessing independent correspondence, or subjected to coercion designed to maintain financial dependency, Victoria Collins forfeits all temporary stewardship interests.”
Samantha felt dizzy.
Every word seemed selected from her life.
Malcolm finished.
“Those interests then transfer irrevocably to Samantha.”
Charlotte turned toward Victoria.
“Mom.”
Victoria’s face was completely colorless.
Samantha whispered:
“He knew?”
Malcolm looked at her.
“He suspected.”
“Suspected what?”
“That after his death, your mother might treat you differently from your sisters.”
Samantha felt tears rising.
“Why?”
Nobody answered.
Then Evelyn did.
“Because she already was.”
Samantha turned.
Evelyn’s eyes glistened.
“Your father saw it.”
“Not all of it.”
“But enough.”
Victoria snapped, “You poisoned him against me.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“I raised your children while you competed with them.”
“That was poisoning enough.”
Victoria stepped toward her.
Olivia moved unexpectedly between them.
“Stop.”
Everybody looked at her.
Olivia’s voice trembled.
“No more.”
Victoria stared at her favorite daughter.
“You have no idea what’s happening.”
“I know you slapped Samantha.”
“Samantha provoked me.”
Olivia flinched.
“You sound insane.”
Victoria’s expression cracked.
“Everything I’ve done has been for this family.”
Charlotte laughed once.
There was no humor.
“No.”
She looked at the orchids.
The gowns.
The prepared dinner.
“You’re trying to marry one of us into a family richer than ours because apparently what Dad left still wasn’t enough.”