“I am exactly where I need to be, Richard,” I replied while walking past him into the conference room. Joanna Kempton was seated at the head of a long table, and beside her was an older gentleman named Lawrence Finch.
“Please take a seat,” Joanna said while opening a thick leather folder that contained the legal documents. My father sat down and opened his own portfolio, looking ready to claim his victory and leave.
“We are here to review the final legacy of Victoria Vance, which was updated and finalized three months ago,” Joanna began. “I understand that Richard has already taken possession of the King Street property and has removed Audrey from the premises.”
“It is my legal right as the surviving spouse,” Richard interrupted while leaning back in his chair. Joanna looked at him over her reading glasses with an expression of pure, professional disdain.
“Actually, Richard, you might want to review the property waiver you signed in 2011,” she said while sliding a document toward him. “This agreement clearly states that the King Street estate was purchased with Victoria’s separate inheritance and remains her separate property.”
My father’s face went pale as he scanned the document he had likely forgotten he ever signed. “This cannot be right, as we have lived there as a family for over twenty years,” he stammered.
“The will explicitly leaves the residence and all its contents solely to Audrey,” Lawrence Finch added while tapping a specific paragraph in the will. “Furthermore, there is a clause that states any attempt to evict Audrey would trigger an immediate forfeiture of your personal bequest.”
I watched as the blood drained from my father’s cheeks, and his hands began to shake as the reality of the situation dawned on him. “There must be some mistake because Victoria and I had a mutual understanding about the assets,” he said while looking at me with desperation.
“The understanding was that you were faithful, but Victoria was well aware of Giselle Fontaine and the funds you diverted to her,” Joanna said while opening a second folder. “She kept a meticulous record of every dollar you moved, and she classified those as advances against your inheritance.”
“You were spying on me?” Richard shouted while standing up so quickly his chair scraped against the floor. “She was protecting her daughter from a man who was already planning his next life while his wife was fighting for hers,” I said while standing to face him.
“You have no authority over this estate, and you are instructed to vacate the King Street property by this evening,” Joanna said with a voice like iron. “We have the police scheduled for a civil standby to ensure Audrey is restored to her home.”
My father looked like he was about to have a stroke as he realized the thirty million dollars he expected to inherit was mostly tied up in trusts he couldn’t touch. “This is a setup, and I will contest every single page of this document in court,” he threatened while pointing a finger at Joanna.
“You are welcome to try, but the forensic accounting is absolute, and the video evidence of your conduct will not help your case,” Joanna countered. Richard turned and stormed out of the room, leaving his leather portfolio behind in his haste to escape the truth.
I sat back down and felt a wave of relief so powerful I could barely breathe. “You did it, Audrey,” Joanna said while reaching across the table to squeeze my hand.
