Chapter 7 - The Relative Who Finally Spoke
The next morning, Claire received a call from Martin Bennett, Theodore’s gray-suited uncle.
He had watched the slap with his hand over his mouth.
He had done nothing.
“I’m sorry,” Martin said.
Claire remained silent.
“I should have stopped him.”
“Yes.”
The honesty unsettled him.
“I told myself it wasn’t my place.”
“It became your place when he hit me in front of you.”
Martin exhaled shakily.
“Margaret told everyone you were draining Theodore’s accounts.”
“Did you believe her?”
“I wanted to.”
“Why?”
“Because the alternative meant admitting you had been supporting all of us.”
Claire looked toward Naomi.
“What do you know?”
Martin revealed that Margaret had asked relatives to sign statements claiming Claire caused disturbances at family gatherings.
Most refused.
Two agreed.
Margaret promised Theodore would repay old family debts in exchange.
“Who prepared the statements?” Naomi asked.
“Victor Hale.”
The accountant.
Martin continued.
“Last night, after you left, Victor came to the mansion. He told Theodore they needed your signature on an emergency transfer before Monday.”
“My signature for what?”
“He didn’t say.”
“Did Theodore agree?”
“He said he could make it look like you signed electronically.”
Naomi began writing.
“That’s attempted fraud.”
Martin’s voice dropped.
“There’s something worse.”
He had overheard Margaret discussing a medical declaration.
Victor had arranged for a private doctor to describe Claire as mentally unfit to manage Northstar Holdings.
Theodore planned to petition for temporary control as her spouse.
“They were going to claim the slap caused you to have some kind of breakdown,” Martin said.
Claire closed her eyes.
Theodore intended to use his own violence as evidence against her.
“Will you testify?” she asked.
Martin hesitated.
Claire almost ended the call.
Then he said, “Yes.”
“Even if Margaret cuts you out of the family?”
Martin laughed bitterly.
“There may not be a family left.”
Before hanging up, he shared one final detail.
Victor had taken a locked case from Claire’s home office.
The case contained Northstar’s original corporate seal and several blank signature certificates.
Claire stood.
“We need to go back.”
Naomi shook her head.
“Not without police.”
Claire looked at the backup camera feed.
May you like
Theodore was standing over her desk with the stolen case open.
👉 Theodore was no longer trying to force Claire out of the mansion—he was preparing to forge her authority before sunrise.
