I stared at that sentence for a long time.
I had said those words.
For the family.
Every birthday.
Every tuition payment.
Every down payment.
Every opportunity.
Trevor had translated generosity into ownership.
Then came Kristen’s messages.
Colder.
Sharper.
Gloria is seventy next year.
Nobody questions a succession plan at that age.
Another:
If she resists, we use incapacity.
Martin can verify she’s been erratic.
Martin replied:
I will not lie about her health.
Kristen:
You’re already lying about your own history. Don’t suddenly develop ethics.
I almost smiled.
Cruel.
Accurate.
Then the message that made Daniel sit beside me before handing it over.
Kristen to Martin:
Trevor thinks Cedarline goes to him once Gloria is out.
Let him.
He has no idea how the holding structure works.
I looked up.
“What holding structure?”
Daniel opened a chart.
Kristen had created Northstar Legacy Partners through a lawyer in another city.
