Chapter 11 - The Marriage Was Selected Before We Met
I met Declan three years ago at an art foundation dinner.
At least, that was the story I had believed until the storage unit.
He spilled wine near my dress.
I laughed.
He apologized.
We talked for almost two hours.
He asked for my number.
For years, I remembered that night as an accident that became love.
Then Elena found an email.
It was printed inside my mother’s files.
The sender was Celeste.
The recipient was Brier.
The date was seven years earlier.
Subject.
HALE SUCCESSION.
Most of the message was ordinary financial language.
One line was not.
Sarah will eventually control Elizabeth’s interests.
We need a Whitmore positioned close to her before that happens.
I felt physically sick.
Declan read the message twice.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“What?”
“I didn’t know this.”
“Did your mother encourage you to attend the foundation dinner where we met?”
He froze.
That was enough.
“Declan.”
“Yes.”
I laughed bitterly.
“She told me you would be there.”
“Why?”
“She said you were someone I should meet.”
“And you never questioned why?”
“I thought she wanted me to date someone respectable.”
I stared at him.
He sounded pathetic because maybe, at that moment, he was.
“Was Brier still with you?”
“No.”
I waited.
He rubbed his jaw.
“Not officially.”
“That means yes.”
“We were ending things.”
“For seven years?”
His head snapped up.
“What?”
I handed him the photograph of Brier with Celeste.
“She was working with your mother before you and I ever met.”
He stared at it.
For once, Declan had no defense.
His phone buzzed.
He ignored it.
Then mine rang.
Graham.
I answered.
“We have a problem.”
“What kind?”
“The board has received a motion requesting your temporary removal as Trust Protector.”
“On what grounds?”
“Instability, conflict of interest, and alleged coercion of a beneficiary.”
I almost laughed.
“Declan?”
“No.”
Graham paused.
“The petition was submitted by Charles Whitmore.”
Declan heard.
His face hardened.
“My father?”
“There is more.”
Graham continued.
“They attached a sworn statement from Brier Logan.”
“What does she claim?”
“That your mother promised her something shortly before her death.”
My breath stopped.
“What?”
Graham spoke slowly.
“According to Brier, Elizabeth Hale intended to prevent you from ever controlling the Hale shares.”
I closed my eyes.
“That’s a lie.”
“I suspect it is.”
“Then why does it matter?”
“Because Brier claims she has the original signed document.”
May you like
Declan stared at me.
“And the board intends to review it tomorrow morning.”
