Chapter 7 - WHY RICHARD PRESCOTT CHOSE CASSANDRA
Cassandra did not remember signing anything.
Because she had not.
A trust protector did not necessarily need to sign immediately.
Richard named her.
She would assume authority only after formal notice.
Marcus never sent the notice.
Again.
Marcus.
Then we found Richard’s letter to Cassandra.
Undelivered.
Cass,
You may hate my son by the time you read this.
You may be right to.
I almost smiled despite everything.
Richard had never softened sentences.
He continued:
Damon believes responsibility means carrying everything himself.
He learned that from me.
It is one of my failures.
If you are carrying his children, you need authority that does not come through him.
Cassandra stopped reading.
Tears filled her eyes.
My father had given her something I had failed to give.
Independence.
Then:
Caroline Continuity Trust exists to fund medical care, education, and protected family interests for Emma’s line and Damon’s future children.
You are protector because no Prescott should control every decision.
I had to sit down.
My father built a check against me.
That was humbling.
Then:
If Damon becomes a good father, this document will annoy him.
If he becomes a bad one, it may save you.
Cassandra laughed through tears.
“That sounds like him.”
“You barely knew him.”
“I know.”
But she had spoken to him more than I realized.
Three blocked calls.
Not one.
After their first conversation, Richard called again.
Asked about her medical care.
Offered money.
She refused.
He respected it.
Then called a final time before his heart attack.
Told her:
“Don’t let Damon buy his way out of being scared.”
I closed my eyes.
That sentence felt like a hand reaching five years through time.
Then the trust contained another condition.
If Marcus Calder or any Calder affiliate interfered with notice to Cassandra or Damon, all Calder advisory authority over the trust terminated automatically.
Marcus had violated it almost immediately.
He never disclosed that.
Why?
Because once removed, he would lose access to the Merritt investment records.
And possibly expose his brother’s conflict.
Then Elena called.
“We have enough to remove Marcus.”
“Do it.”
“Board vote first thing.”
“No.”
I paused.
“Preserve evidence first.”
I was learning too.
Then Cassandra asked:
“What happens to the acquisition?”
We finally had the full picture.
Prescott direct offer:
$780 million.
Calder offer:
$810 million.
But if Emma Trust and Caroline Continuity exercised their rights, Merritt’s effective ownership and sale proceeds changed.
Some shares would belong to trusts for Luke and Violet.
That meant I had an undisclosed conflict negotiating as Prescott CEO while my children were beneficiaries.
I needed recusal.
Immediately.
I called Elena.
“I’m stepping out of Merritt negotiations.”
Silence.
“That could kill the deal.”
“Then it dies.”
“What do you want the board to do?”
“Independent committee.”
“And your personal trust rights?”
“Separate counsel.”
Cassandra looked at me.
Not impressed.
Not forgiving.
But maybe surprised.
Good.
Then Marcus called again.
I answered.
“Damon, you are blowing up a strategic acquisition over personal confusion.”
“No.”
“You don’t even have DNA yet.”
That sentence froze me.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“The twins are mine.”
“You believe Cassandra.”
“Yes.”
“Belief is not proof.”
He was not wrong legally.
But his tone was wrong.
Then:
“Get paternity testing before handing children hundreds of millions.”
Cassandra flinched.
I hated him for that.
Still—
we needed proof.
Not because I doubted her.
Because every trust, every board, every future challenge would.
I looked at Cassandra.
“I want the test.”
Her face tightened.
Then I added:
“Not because I think you lied.”
She waited.
“Because nobody gets to use uncertainty against them again.”
Her expression changed.
She nodded.
“Okay.”
Samples taken.
Results expedited.
Then Marcus said:
“You’re making the exact mistake Richard feared.”
“What mistake?”
“Letting Emma control your life.”
I almost hung up.
Then he added:
“You never asked why your father built Merritt triggers around neonatal care before Cassandra was pregnant.”
My blood went cold.
“What are you saying?”
“Richard knew Merritt would become necessary to your family.”
“How?”
A pause.
“Because Emma wasn’t the only Prescott child born with that mutation.”
I stopped breathing.
“Who else?”
May you like
Marcus whispered:
“You.”
