Chapter 3 - The Secret Test
Vanessa’s hand slid away from Nathaniel’s arm, her emerald-green gown shimmering as she took an involuntary step backward.
"Nathaniel... what is this old man talking about?" she whispered, her voice shaking with sudden dread.
"You told me your family owned the hotel, the shipping lines, and the skyscrapers!"
Nathaniel couldn't speak; his jaw hung slack as he stared at the certified corporate registry Samuel held open.
"When Charles Bennett realized his granddaughter had fallen in love with you four years ago, he established a confidential covenant," Samuel explained to the entire room.
"He knew the corrupting influence of unearned wealth, so he shielded Evelyn’s true lineage behind an ironclad trust."
"If you loved her for who she was, honored your marriage, and treated her as an equal partner, the entire controlling interest was to be transferred to your joint names on your fourth anniversary."
Samuel paused, his piercing grey eyes settling directly onto the two wedding rings sitting on the champagne table.
"Tonight marks exactly four years since your vows were spoken," Samuel continued, his tone turning into cold steel.
"Instead of honoring your wife, you announced your mistress's pregnancy and ordered the true owner of this empire to kneel on her own floor."
Margaret Ashford lunged forward, her voice shrill and desperate.
"This is fraud! We demand to see the original signatures! Nathaniel has been CEO for six years!"
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"He was CEO on probation, Madam Ashford," Samuel said, pulling out a second stamped decree.
"And pursuant to Section 9 of the founder's charter, public moral turpitude and betrayal of the primary heir triggers immediate, irrevocable termination."
