“I never inherited anything.”
“Richard hid your identity to protect you. He raised you as his daughter and allowed everyone to believe I was your mother.”
The room became very still.
“Then Richard wasn’t stealing from me?”
“Not at first.”
“At first?”
Evelyn’s face hardened.
“Over the years, he began using the assets. He told himself it was necessary to keep Hale Medical alive. Eventually, protection became theft.”
“So Rosie was right.”
“Rosie was right about many things.”
“Did Richard try to have her declared incompetent?”
“Yes.”
Ben’s hands curled into fists.
“Why?”
“Because she discovered the trusts were connected. On Rosie’s thirtieth birthday, control of Evelyn’s Hale Medical shares would transfer fully to her. At the same time, previously sealed records about Claire’s Vale inheritance would become accessible to both sisters.”
“That’s why he was afraid,” I said.
“He feared prosecution. But more than that, he feared the records would lead Graham to you.”
