Chapter 10 - THE FIRST FAMILY SECRET
Daniel wanted Robert’s death reopened immediately.
Rebecca warned that old cases were difficult.
No preserved toxicology.
No obvious evidence.
No witness who had spoken then.
Olivia responded before they even filed anything.
She volunteered a statement through counsel.
Robert had known Marcus was not biologically his.
He chose to raise him anyway.
Vincent had been at the house because Robert requested legal advice.
The story was neat.
Maybe true.
Maybe prepared long ago.
Marcus refused to believe any of it.
He confronted Olivia.
She admitted Vincent was his father.
Then blamed Robert.
“He was never there.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“Neither were you. You were managing all of us.”
Ashley sided with Olivia.
Not out of loyalty alone.
Financial dependence mattered.
Ashley’s apartment lease was in Olivia’s trust.
Her car.
Her credit line.
Her lifestyle.
If Olivia fell, Ashley fell.
That made Ashley dangerous.
She began posting selectively edited family messages online.
Sarah ignored most.
Then one post went viral.
A video showed Sarah saying:
“If they want war, I’ll take every dollar.”
The video was real.
Taken from a private conversation with Rebecca.
But the next sentence was missing:
“Every dollar they tried to move illegally.”
Sarah’s company board became nervous.
Investors asked whether the family litigation endangered corporate governance.
Olivia had found Sarah’s pressure point.
Reputation.
Sarah responded by disclosing the dispute to the board before rumors grew.
Transparency hurt less than blackmail.
Olivia then filed a civil suit claiming Sarah had financed a campaign to alienate her children and grandchildren.
Absurd.
But litigation meant discovery.
Discovery could expose Sarah’s private business communications.
Vincent knew exactly what he was doing.
Rebecca moved for protective orders.
The judge granted some, denied others.
Olivia gained limited access to Sarah’s personal financial records.
That was likely the goal.
Then Melissa discovered someone had used discovery-produced documents to approach one of Sarah’s lenders.
The bank received an anonymous warning that Sarah’s marital assets might be frozen.
The lender paused a major credit extension.
Sarah’s company faced immediate pressure.
Daniel finally understood.
“My mother doesn’t need your company.”
Sarah looked at him.
“She needs you to need settlement.”
Olivia wanted Sarah desperate enough to trade control for peace.
The same strategy she used with Robert.
Create fear.
Offer protection.
Take authority.
Sarah refused.
Instead, she arranged alternate financing at worse terms.
It cost millions.
But it removed Olivia’s leverage.
For the first time, Olivia made an emotional mistake.
She called Sarah directly.
“You would burn your own money just to spite me.”
Sarah answered quietly.
“No. I would burn money to stop you owning me.”
Olivia hung up.
That night, Ashley arrived at Sarah’s hotel unexpectedly.
She looked terrified.
“I need immunity.”
“For what?”
Ashley handed over a tablet.
It contained a shared family planning folder.
Documents.
Draft statements.
Edited videos.
Lists of judges.
Potential custody narratives.
Financial pressure points.
Rebecca stared.
“This is everything.”
Ashley shook her head.
“No.”
“What’s missing?”
“Mom deleted one folder.”
“What was it called?”
Ashley swallowed.
“Emma.”
Sarah’s entire body went cold.
May you like
Ashley continued.
“I think what happened on the balcony was supposed to be worse.”
