Chapter 4 - THE FIVE-MILLION-DOLLAR DAUGHTER
Suddenly Gavin wanting nothing to do with Isabelle made perfect sense.
He did not want the child.
He wanted what belonged to her.
Miriam had created the trust four months before she died.
Most of the original funding came from the sale of farmland outside Eugene that Valerie never knew Miriam still owned.
The trust was for Isabelle’s education, medical needs, housing, and eventual inheritance.
Valerie became sole trustee.
Gavin received no control.
Not even if Valerie died.
“What happens if I’m removed?” Valerie asked.
Evelyn opened the trust document.
“The first successor is me.”
Valerie blinked.
“Not Florence?”
“No.”
“Then why did Gavin say Florence becomes trustee?”
“Because he either hasn’t read the trust or somebody created another document.”
By evening, they had an answer.
Gavin had filed a petition asking a court to recognize what he claimed was a “later amendment” signed by Miriam six weeks before her death.
That amendment replaced Evelyn with Florence as successor trustee.
Valerie stared at the scanned signature.
“My mother didn’t sign this.”
“You’re sure?”
“Miriam never dotted her i like that.”
There were hundreds of reasons to doubt the amendment.
The biggest was the date.
On the day Miriam supposedly signed it in San Diego, she had been receiving chemotherapy in Oregon.
Valerie had sat beside her.
She still had hospital photographs.
“Gavin forged my dying mother’s signature.”
“We need an expert before we call it forgery in court.”
“It’s forged.”
“I believe you. I need to prove it.”
The strategy was becoming clear.
Gavin planned to portray Valerie as financially irresponsible.
He stole money from Verde Living, then accused her of moving marital funds.
If Valerie appeared dishonest or unstable, he could challenge her role as trustee.
Under the fake amendment, Florence would take control.
Then Gavin could influence his mother.
And Isabelle’s money would become another account he believed belonged to him.
Valerie felt nauseated.
She had tolerated affairs because she thought protecting Isabelle meant preserving a two-parent household.
All that time, Gavin had been studying where Isabelle’s assets were kept.
That evening, Valerie picked Isabelle up from preschool.
Her daughter climbed into the back seat holding a paper sunflower.
“Daddy says we might have two houses.”
Valerie froze.
“When did Daddy say that?”
“This morning.”
“What else did he say?”
Isabelle thought carefully.
“He said Chloe has a prettier room for me.”
Valerie gripped the steering wheel.
“Did Daddy say where Mommy would live?”
Isabelle frowned.
“He said you like plants more than people, so you might live with Grandma Miriam.”
Valerie stopped breathing.
Miriam was dead.
Gavin knew Miriam was dead.
He had attended the funeral.
He was telling a four-year-old child that her mother might go live with a dead woman.
Valerie pulled over.
She climbed into the back seat and held Isabelle’s hands.
“Sweetheart, Mommy is not leaving you.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
“Daddy said grown-ups break promises.”
Valerie swallowed.
“Then watch what Mommy does.”
That night, she called Evelyn.
“I’m done being quiet.”
The next morning, Florence arrived at the house without warning.
She looked older than Valerie remembered.
And frightened.
Gavin’s mother stood on the porch holding a folder against her chest.
“I need to speak to you before my son finds out I’m here.”
Valerie did not move.
Florence looked at the door.
“Please.”
May you like
“Why?”
“Because Gavin stole this house from me too.”
