Chapter 5 - The Final Will And The Devastating Clause
"Now," Penelope said, her voice cutting through the chaotic bickering like a sharp blade. "Let us return to the reading of the actual, legally binding final will of Everett Vance, signed and witnessed on his deathbed in the presence of two independent physicians and myself."
Calvin slumped back into his seat, breathing heavily, sweat beading on his forehead. Kyle was trembling uncontrollably, staring at his hands as if they were stained with ink and blood.
Penelope turned the page of the leather-bound portfolio.
"To my beloved daughter, Paige," Penelope read aloud, her tone softening with genuine warmth. " 'You have been my rock, my joy, and the keeper of our family’s honor. You have tended to the gardens of our life with the same patience and grace you showed your mother. To you, I leave the entirety of the Maple Street estate, free and clear of all encumbrances, along with my personal savings and the family trust fund.' "
A triumphant warmth washed over me, though I kept my expression composed.
"And what about me?" Kyle whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking. "Dad... what did he leave me?"
Penelope looked at my brother, her eyes filled with profound disappointment. She turned to the final page of the document.
"For my son, Kyle," Penelope read, her voice steady and unyielding. " 'You allowed yourself to be blinded by the empty promises of a snake in the grass. You traded your sister’s trust and your father’s honor for silver that was never yours to spend. Therefore, you are hereby disinherited from the primary estate. You shall receive the sum of one dollar, to be delivered alongside a copy of this will, as a reminder that integrity cannot be bought, and betrayal always has a price.' "
Kyle burst into tears, burying his face in his hands as low sobs wracked his body. "No... no, Dad... I'm sorry... I was stupid..."
"Too late for apologies, Mr. Vance," Penelope said coldly. "Your father gave you every chance to come clean. Instead, you chose to conspire with the very man who destroyed your sister's marriage."
Calvin stood up abruptly, his chair screeching against the floorboards. "This is a rigged farce! I'm going to sue! I'll contest this in every court in the state! You can't just cut me out after fifteen years of loyal service to that family!"
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"Service?" Penelope scoffed, her gaze locking onto him with razor-sharp intensity. "Calvin, you were a parasite who leeched off Everett’s goodwill for years, repaid his kindness by sleeping with your secretary while married to his daughter, and then had the sheer audacity to plot his estate's theft before his body was even cold in the ground. You aren't going to court to contest a will, Calvin. You're going to court to answer criminal indictments."
As if on cue, the conference room doors swung open wide. Two police officers in crisp uniforms stepped inside, their eyes fixed directly on Calvin Montgomery.
