Chapter 3 - THE FORTUNE WASN’T AS SIMPLE AS VICTORIA CLAIMED
Avery did not assume Liam was illegitimate.
She called a lawyer.
Not the Sterling family lawyer.
Her own.
Natalie Price had represented Avery before the wedding and negotiated the prenuptial agreement Victoria had repeatedly described as “necessary protection.”
Natalie read photographs of the documents over an encrypted video call the next morning.
“This appears to be correspondence related to an old trust modification.”
“Can it change Liam’s inheritance?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
Avery hated that answer.
Natalie continued.
“We need actual trust documents, amendments, beneficiary language, dates, and the law governing them. Family photographs don’t decide ownership.”
“What about Leo?”
“Same answer.”
Avery appreciated that Natalie refused to turn old paper into instant drama.
Then Natalie paused over one page.
“This is interesting.”
Avery leaned closer.
The document had been drafted by a deceased attorney named Harold Voss.
It referred to “the circumstances surrounding Victoria Mercer Sterling’s pregnancy” and proposed delaying a beneficiary determination until the child’s paternity could be privately resolved.
Avery’s stomach tightened.
Liam was beside her.
He read the sentence twice.
“My father knew.”
“Apparently somebody did,” Natalie said.
The document continued.
Richard Sterling opposed genetic testing.
Julian Sterling did too.
Their father, Charles Sterling, insisted the issue be settled before future company shares were assigned.
Then, suddenly, the correspondence stopped.
A later memo stated:
Matter resolved privately. No further inquiry authorized.
No explanation.
No test result.
No declaration.
Nothing.
Liam stared at the screen.
“So what did they decide?”
“We don’t know.”
Avery looked toward the burgundy case.
“Why would this be beside Leo’s bassinet?”
Liam’s expression changed.
He had been wondering the same thing.
They returned downstairs.
Victoria was drinking coffee alone in the breakfast room.
Avery placed the case in front of her.
“Who put this near Leo?”
Victoria’s eyes moved to Liam.
Not Avery.
“Your father.”
Liam went still.
“My father has been dead six years.”
Victoria corrected herself.
“His instructions.”
Avery sat down.
Victoria looked suddenly older.
“Richard left that case with the family office.”
“For what?”
“To be delivered if Liam ever had a child.”
Avery’s anger became confusion.
“Why?”
May you like
Victoria looked toward the windows.
“Because Richard was afraid your baby would force the family to answer a question we spent thirty-five years avoiding.”
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