Chapter 10 - THE MEETING WITHOUT VIVIAN
St. Anselm’s CEO, Dr. Helen Ward, met with:
Robert,
Claire,
Maya,
Charles Whitmore,
the bank trustee,
and Ethan.
Vivian was excluded due conflict review.
She was furious.
Good.
The independent engineer presented three routes.
Route A:
through Bennett wooded land.
Most politically developed.
Not cheapest.
Route B:
through VWM property using Bennett easement.
Cheaper.
Preserves most Bennett woodland.
Route C:
shared corridor across both.
Moderate cost.
Best traffic distribution.
Dr. Ward stared at Charles.
“Why were we told Route A was necessary?”
Charles answered:
“Internal representations we are reviewing.”
Ethan looked ashamed.
Then Robert asked:
“What does the hospital actually need?”
“Reliable access by deadline.”
Not family drama.
Not trust control.
Road.
That simplified everything.
Then Claire proposed:
Route C.
Limited strip from Bennett commercial edge.
Larger strip from VWM.
Preserve trees.
Independent compensation.
No special family agreement.
No marriage-related language.
Everyone stared.
Robert asked:
“You’re okay with giving some land?”
Claire looked at him.
“It’s yours.”
He smiled.
“Still asking.”
“Yes.”
Robert thought.
Then:
“If price is fair and trees stay.”
There.
A real negotiation.
Then Ethan said:
“I support Route C.”
Charles looked at him.
Vivian would hate it.
Ethan answered:
“I know.”
For once, he chose conflict with his mother before asking Claire to reward him.
That mattered.
But did not restore engagement.
Then Vivian filed an emergency trust action seeking to block use of VWM property.
Why?
She claimed VWM was separate personal property and Route C unfairly targeted her because of family hostility.
Legally plausible.
Then Maya produced the old easement.
If valid, Bennett already had access rights over VWM.
Vivian could not simply block.
Court scheduled hearing.
Then handwriting experts concluded Robert’s quitclaim signature was forged.
Strong probability.
Not absolute.
The retired notary was located in Arizona.
May you like
He agreed to testify remotely.
What he said could turn a family dispute into a criminal referral.
