Chapter 16 - THE TRUST THAT MIGHT NOT EXIST
If the estate schedule was forged, Daniel’s rescue plan would collapse and someone close to Elise had committed fraud in her name.
The witness log placed Harrison’s notarial device at Aurelia’s workshop on the filing date. Security footage from that year had been deleted under routine retention policy.
Maren recalled Elise meeting an independent estate lawyer, Samantha Page. Samantha had died during the pandemic. Her archived calendar listed a client called E.M. and a witness called R.H.
Harrison’s full name was Robert Harrison.
He still denied attending.
Then Lily’s plush rabbit supplied another clue. Beneath the repaired ear seam, conservators found a thread of green wool. Harrison wore green wool gloves during winter because of a skin condition. A photograph from the filing date showed Elise holding the rabbit beside a gloved man whose face was outside the frame.
Fiber evidence could not prove identity.
Harrison finally remembered an evening when Elise asked him to witness “a birthday document.” He had been taking medication after dental surgery and signed through his portable device without reading the schedule.
“Everyone in this story signs what they don’t read,” Naomi said.
Harrison looked ashamed. “Because we trusted the person asking.”
“Trust is why important documents require independent review.”
Forensic examination confirmed Elise’s signature, Samantha’s drafting metadata, and the registry timestamp. The purpose trust was valid.
North Coast withdrew its friendly offer and began a hostile proxy campaign instead. Vane promised investors he could replace Aurelia’s board, settle the trust litigation, and license the patents on favorable terms.
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He nominated Victoria Blake as a customer-rights representative.
The woman who humiliated Lily was now campaigning to sit on the board governing Lily’s inheritance.
