Chapter 10 - THE BOARD WAS CHOSEN FOR A REASON
The oak menu board was not an ordinary wedding decoration.
It weighed nearly eleven pounds.
The hotel’s event planner recommended lightweight acrylic menus.
Preston rejected them.
He personally requested solid oak boards.
He also insisted one stand near the family table.
Emails showed he changed the placement on the morning of the wedding.
The board originally belonged near the ballroom entrance.
Preston moved it within six feet of Sophie’s chair.
His attorneys called the decision aesthetic.
Detective Miles found a text message from Preston to Paige.
IF THE PHONE DOESN’T END IT, I’LL CREATE A BIGGER INCIDENT.
Paige claimed she believed he meant an argument.
Another message followed.
MOTHER SAYS CHILDREN FALL ALL THE TIME.
My mother had written more than one message about accidents.
Three days before the wedding, she searched for information about childhood head injuries.
She also asked the hotel whether the ballroom carried liability insurance for guest accidents.
The prosecution could not yet prove they intended to kill Sophie.
It could prove they discussed a physical incident.
Preston’s charge was upgraded to attempted aggravated assault with premeditation.
The trust clause became evidence of motive.
My father requested a meeting through his attorney.
I refused.
He sent a recorded statement instead.
He blamed my mother.
He claimed she designed the plan to protect Preston.
He admitted purchasing the duplicate phone but denied knowing it would be planted on Sophie.
He said he believed it would be used to create a harmless misunderstanding.
A harmless misunderstanding involving an eight-year-old accused of theft before two hundred guests.
My mother responded by releasing messages showing that my father selected Sophie as the target.
Her text read:
EVELYN WILL DEFEND THE CHILD.
THEN WE CAN SHOW THE COURT SHE CANNOT SEPARATE EMOTION FROM JUDGMENT.
My parents had spent forty years presenting a united family.
Within one week of arrest, they began sacrificing each other.
Preston blamed both of them.
Paige blamed Preston.
Cassandra blamed Paige.
Every secret alliance broke once consequences arrived.
The hotel board ordered a complete forensic audit.
Auditors discovered that Preston had diverted more than sixty million dollars from renovation budgets into private companies.
He used some of the money to pay Paige.
He used more to purchase houses in Miami and Aspen.
The wedding itself cost nearly four million dollars.
Half was charged to the hotel group as a marketing event.
The family empire was not only cruel.
It was being emptied from inside.
Grandmother’s trust amendment had prevented Preston from selling the flagship hotel.
That was why he needed Sophie removed before the audit.
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My daughter had not simply witnessed an affair.
Her existence stood between Preston and an escape fund.
