Mark laughed. “She’s insane.”
The doorbell rang.
Father frowned.
I opened it.
Two detectives stepped in first. Then Diana Cross. Then Mr. Bell. Behind them came a court officer carrying a folder thick enough to choke on.
Celeste stood abruptly. “Victor?”
My father’s smile faltered. “What is this?”
Mr. Bell adjusted his glasses. “Margaret Hale placed this property, her accounts, and related assets into an irrevocable trust twelve years ago. Elise is the sole beneficiary and acting trustee.”
“That’s a lie,” Father snapped.
Diana handed him copies of the bank records. “Your attempted withdrawal triggered a criminal fraud investigation.”
One detective stepped forward. “Victor Hale, you are under arrest for attempted bank fraud, forgery, elder financial abuse, and conspiracy.”
Celeste dropped her teacup. It shattered on the floor.
Mark stopped laughing.
Father’s face turned purple. “You little witch.”
I stepped closer, calm as winter.
“You threw Grandma’s savings book into her grave,” I said. “You called it useless.”
His hands curled into fists.
I held up the flash drive. “She recorded everything. Every threat. Every forged document. Every time you said I’d end up begging you for scraps.”
Celeste whispered, “Victor, tell them it’s not true.”
