Chapter 9 - MILA WAS NOT POORAnother assumption collapsed during the financial review.
Mila had not been hidden because nobody could afford her care.
Nora had received money.
Substantial money.
Natalie had established a private account after discovering Mila.
$600,000 initially.
Then a trust.
After Natalie’s death, the trust continued paying for Mila’s schooling, medical care and housing.
The money came from Natalie’s separate inheritance.
I had never known about the account.
Veronica was not trustee.
A small Colorado trust company administered it.
That made the concealment easier.
Payments looked legitimate.
Because they were.
Then we found the trust instructions.
They said:
Beneficiary: Mila Rose Vaughn, daughter of Natalie Elise Vaughn.
Father:
Blank.
Not deceased.
Blank.
Natalie had been preparing to amend that.
She never finished.
Then something else appeared.
A handwritten letter from Natalie to the trust attorney.
Alexander believes Mila died. This must be corrected. I need a safe way to tell him and bring her home without my mother interfering.
I read that line twelve times.
There was my wife.
Not innocent.
Not monstrous.
Afraid.
Trying.
Too slow.
The letter ended:
I know every day I wait makes it worse.
May you like
She knew.
That broke me more than if she had rationalized everything.
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