Chapter 8: The Daughter Who Never Signed
Emily stared at the document.
Her name was printed beneath the witness declaration.
Her signature appeared beside it.
But she had never seen the document.
She had never agreed to give away the hotel.
And she had certainly never signed anything transferring her inheritance to Victoria Whitmore.
"That's not my signature.""
Thomas remained silent.
Emily stepped closer.
"Look at me. That's not my signature.""
"I understand.""
"No, you don't. Someone used my name.""
Daniel took the document from Thomas.
"Did you personally witness Emily signing this?""
Thomas rubbed his forehead.
"No.""
"Then why did you certify it?""
"I relied on the submitted declaration.""
Daniel's voice rose.
"You were the attorney responsible for protecting this trust!""
"I know.""
"You were supposed to verify the identity of the beneficiary!""
Thomas lowered his head.
"I made a mistake.""
Emily laughed once, bitterly.
"A mistake?""
She looked at Victoria.
"Did you know?""
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
"No. I swear I didn't.""
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Victoria, don't answer that.""
Daniel turned.
"Why shouldn't she?""
"Because you're trying to turn everyone against each other!""
Victoria faced her mother.
"Mother, did you arrange this transfer?""
Eleanor shook her head.
"I did what was necessary to secure your future.""
Victoria's face crumpled.
"By stealing my cousin's inheritance?""
"She doesn't need it! Look at her. She's comfortable. Her father gives her everything.""
Emily's eyes narrowed.
"That's not yours to decide.""
Eleanor pointed toward her.
"You have no idea how much work goes into maintaining a hotel like this. Victoria has dedicated her entire life to this business.""
Emily looked at her cousin.
"Then she should have been allowed to earn her place without taking mine.""
Victoria wiped her cheeks.
"I never asked for this.""
Eleanor turned sharply.
"Don't be foolish. Everything I've done was for you.""
"Did you forge Dad's signature?""
Eleanor said nothing.
"Did you use my name?""
Still nothing.
Victoria's voice broke.
"Mother, answer me!""
Eleanor suddenly slapped the document out of Daniel's hand.
"Enough!""
The paper fluttered onto the marble floor.
Several guests gasped.
Eleanor stood breathing heavily.
"You people are acting as if I stole something from a stranger. This was supposed to stay in the family!""
Daniel slowly bent down and picked up the document.
"Then why didn't you ask?""
Eleanor laughed.
"Because you would never have agreed.""
"Correct.""
"You were going to leave everything to Emily!""
"Because she's my daughter.""
"And what about Victoria?""
Daniel looked at his niece.
"Victoria had a career, a salary, and an opportunity to run this hotel. Emily was the beneficiary of a trust I created with her future in mind. Those things are not interchangeable.""
Eleanor shook her head.
"You never understood what it takes to protect a legacy.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"Apparently, neither did you.""
Thomas cleared his throat.
"There's something else.""
Daniel looked at him.
"What?""
"The amendment wasn't the only document submitted.""
Thomas opened his briefcase again.
He removed a second folder.
Inside were copies of emails, payment records, and correspondence between Eleanor and a private corporate services firm.
Emily watched as Daniel turned the pages.
His eyes narrowed.
"Northbridge.""
Thomas nodded.
"Yes.""
Victoria approached.
"What's Northbridge doing in these documents?""
Thomas hesitated.
"Northbridge Guest Solutions was originally created to provide event staffing and guest relocation services. But three years ago, it became part of a larger arrangement.""
Daniel turned another page.
A company named Windsor Heritage Holdings appeared.
Its registered director was Eleanor Whitmore.
Daniel looked at Margaret, who had returned from the finance office.
"Have you seen this company before?""
Margaret shook her head.
"No, sir.""
Thomas continued.
"Windsor Heritage Holdings has been purchasing small interests in companies connected to the hotel group.""
Daniel stared at him.
"Using what money?""
Thomas didn't answer immediately.
Then he pointed to the transaction records.
"Payments from the hotel.""
Margaret took the folder.
She scanned the figures.
"Oh, my God.""
Victoria looked over her shoulder.
"What?""
Margaret's voice trembled.
"These transfers total more than four million dollars.""
Emily felt sick.
Four million dollars.
Her father looked toward Eleanor.
"You weren't just trying to control the hotel.""
Eleanor remained silent.
"You were using company funds to build a competing ownership position.""
Thomas nodded.
"That was the apparent objective.""
Daniel closed the folder.
"Why?""
Eleanor finally spoke.
"Because you were going to retire.""
Daniel frowned.
"What?""
"You told everyone you wanted to step back. You were planning to spend more time with Emily and the baby. You were going to hand over operational control.""
Daniel stared at her.
"That doesn't explain why you stole from the company.""
Eleanor's voice grew louder.
"Victoria deserved the hotel! She worked for it. She lived for it. And you were going to leave everything to Emily simply because she was your daughter.""
Victoria shook her head.
"Mother, I never wanted it this way.""
"You wanted to run the hotel.""
"Not like this!""
Eleanor ignored her.
"I was making sure my daughter wouldn't be pushed aside.""
Daniel looked at Thomas.
"Who else was involved?""
The lawyer hesitated.
"There's another person.""
Emily felt her heart pound.
"Who?""
Thomas opened a smaller envelope.
Inside was a copy of a bank transfer authorization.
The account holder was not Eleanor.
It belonged to someone named Michael Carter.
Emily went pale.
Michael was her younger brother.
He had disappeared from the family three years earlier after a bitter argument with Daniel over money.
Emily hadn't spoken to him since.
"Why is my brother's name here?""
Daniel took the document.
His expression became deeply troubled.
"Because Michael was the person who introduced Eleanor to Northbridge.""
Victoria looked confused.
"But Michael doesn't work for the hotel.""
Daniel shook his head.
"No. He doesn't.""
Emily's voice was barely audible.
"Then why would he help her?""
Thomas looked toward Daniel.
"Because Michael was promised something in exchange.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"What?""
Thomas took a breath.
"Ownership of the hotel after the transfer to Victoria was completed.""
Emily stared at her father.
"Michael was supposed to get the hotel?""
Daniel nodded.
"And I think we finally know who forged my signature.""
A sound came from behind them.
The revolving doors opened.
A young man entered wearing a black jacket and carrying a small travel bag.
He looked directly at Daniel.
Then at Emily.
His face was pale.
"Hi, Dad.""
Emily couldn't move.
It was Michael.
May you like
Her brother had just walked into the hotel.
And he was smiling.
