Chapter 12: The Enemy Inside The Family
Three days after the dinner, Carter Holdings received a legal notice.
A challenge to the inheritance.
The timing was too perfect.
Almost suspicious.
I read the documents in my office while my attorney explained everything.
“Someone is questioning your grandfather’s transfer of ownership.””
“On what grounds?””
They claimed my grandfather was not mentally capable of making certain decisions near the end of his life.
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was predictable.
“She’s attacking the will.””
My attorney looked at me.
“Who?””
I didn’t answer immediately.
But I already knew.
Gwendolyn.
The woman who claimed she wanted family.
The woman who wanted peace.
The woman who had now chosen war.
My father came over that afternoon.
When I showed him the documents, his face went pale.
“She wouldn’t.””
I looked at him.
“Dad.””
He closed his eyes.
“You still want to believe the best in her.””
He didn’t deny it.
“I spent ten years with her.””
“I know.””
“And I keep thinking maybe there was a reason.””
I softened slightly.
“Maybe there was.””
He looked at me.
“But reasons don’t erase choices.””
He nodded.
Because he finally understood.
We spent the next several hours reviewing everything.
The documents from my grandfather.
The financial records.
The company information.
And then we found something.
A transaction.
A payment.
A connection.
My father stared at the screen.
“That’s impossible.””
“What?””
He pointed.
“This company.””
I looked closer.
A consulting firm.
One that had received payments connected to Carter Holdings.
“What about it?””
“My business partner recommended them.””
I froze.
“Who?””
My father looked at me.
“Gwendolyn’s brother.””
The room went silent.
Suddenly, the entire story changed.
This wasn’t just about Gwendolyn wanting control.
She had been connected to the company’s problems from the beginning.
My grandfather hadn’t just been suspicious.
He had been investigating.
I opened another file.
Inside was a recorded statement from my grandfather’s attorney.
The date was two weeks before he died.
I pressed play.
My grandfather’s voice filled the room.
“If this recording is being viewed, then someone has challenged my decisions.””
I stopped breathing.
His voice continued.
“I want Paige to understand something.””
A pause.
“She was never chosen because she was the easiest person to control.””
My eyes filled.
“She was chosen because she was the only one who never tried to control anyone else.””
I looked at my father.
Neither of us moved.
My grandfather continued.
“The people who seek power will always reveal themselves when they believe they are losing it.””
The recording ended.
I sat there in silence.
Because suddenly, I understood.
The bedroom.
The house.
The inheritance.
The company.
Everything had been connected.
Gwendolyn didn’t see me as a daughter.
She saw me as the final obstacle.
And now she had made her move.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man’s voice spoke.
“Paige Carter?””
“Yes?””
“My name is Daniel Reeves. I was your grandfather’s attorney.””
I sat up.
“Why are you calling me?””
A pause.
Then:
“Because there is one thing your grandfather never told anyone.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What?””
His voice lowered.
“The person who betrayed your grandfather was never working alone.””
I looked at my father.
And I knew.
May you like
Whatever happened next…
It was going to destroy the last illusion my family had left.
