Chapter 8 - The Father's Will
The next morning, Caroline stood inside the heavily guarded vault of the First Manhattan Depository.
The bank manager solemnly unlocked the heavy steel box and left her alone in the room.
Caroline took a deep breath and opened the lid.
Inside lay a thick, sealed envelope with her name written in her father's unmistakable handwriting.
She broke the wax seal with trembling hands.
It was his true, finalized Last Will and Testament, dated one week before his sudden death.
As Caroline read the pages, tears filled her eyes.
Her father knew.
He knew about Amanda's greed, and he had suspected David's existence might become a threat.
"To my loving daughter Caroline, who built her own empire," the letter read.
"I leave you full control of the family estate, to protect your mother."
"To Amanda, I leave a trust fund that only pays out if she maintains honest employment, knowing her nature."
"And to David Vance... I leave nothing, as his mother was paid in full thirty years ago for my terrible mistake."
Amanda had found an older, outdated draft of the will in the house and used it to manipulate the courts.
She had hidden the truth to steal the money and destroy their mother.
Caroline carefully placed the document back into her briefcase.
The forgery case against Amanda and David was already strong.
But this original will was the final nail in their coffins.
It proved undeniable, premeditated fraud against the estate.
Caroline walked out of the bank with her head held high.
The dark cloud that had hung over her family was finally lifting.
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She pulled out her phone and dialed the District Attorney.
"I have the final piece of evidence," Caroline said. "Throw the book at them."
