Chapter 17 - The Trap for Wesley
Wesley received the call at 9:12 that night.
The man on the other end claimed to be an attorney.
“We need your signature.”
“For what?”
“Your father's estate.”
“My father's estate is settled.”
“Not this one.”
Wesley looked toward Claire.
She immediately shook her head.
“Don't agree to anything.”
The caller hung up.
Five minutes later, Wesley received an email.
A legal document.
A transfer agreement.
The language was sophisticated.
The signature block was already waiting.
Claire called Nora.
“Someone is trying to make him sign.”
Nora checked the sender.
“Mara Jennings.”
Claire's heart sank.
“She has access to the trust.”
“Yes.”
“Can she transfer the company?”
“Not without Wesley.”
“So she needs him.”
“Exactly.”
Wesley looked frightened.
“I can handle this.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“I need to fix what I broke.”
“This isn't about fixing your mistakes.”
“It feels like it.”
Claire walked toward him.
“This is what they want you to think.”
Audrey came in.
“What happened?”
Claire explained.
Audrey looked at Wesley.
“Then don't sign.”
“I won't.”
The next morning, Wesley disappeared.
Claire received a message.
I need to talk to them.
She called him.
No answer.
The police were notified.
Nora traced the phone.
Old rail station.
Claire's heart dropped.
The same abandoned station where she had previously met Caleb.
They rushed there.
Wesley's vehicle was parked outside.
The door was open.
Inside the station, Claire heard voices.
Mara.
Wesley.
Peter.
Peter had been released again.
This time, because he had been cooperating.
Claire couldn't believe it.
She entered.
Peter stood behind Wesley.
Mara held a folder.
“You shouldn't have come,” Peter said.
Claire stepped forward.
“Let him go.”
Mara shook her head.
“He is not a prisoner.”
Wesley said, “Mom, they want me to sign.”
Claire looked at the document.
“Don't.”
Peter laughed.
“You still don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“No.”
Peter lifted another document.
“This is the original corporate succession agreement.”
Claire frowned.
“So?”
“If Wesley refuses, the company is frozen.”
“Good.”
Peter smiled.
“No.”
He slid a second page across the table.
“Read the clause.”
Claire did.
Her face changed.
If a beneficiary fails to execute required transfer within a specified period, the controlling interest transfers to the estate administrator.
“Who is the administrator?”
Mara.
Claire looked at her.
“You changed the trust.”
“No.”
Peter answered.
“Your husband did.”
Claire stared.
“No.”
Mara said quietly, “He knew there would be a dispute.”
“What dispute?”
“The one happening now.”
Claire read further.
If any heir is found to be the biological child of another party, the trust becomes contestable.
Claire looked at Wesley.
Peter smiled.
“Caleb's existence makes the entire inheritance vulnerable.”
“What do you want?”
“Wesley to sign.”
“And then?”
“He walks away.”
Wesley shook his head.
“No.”
Peter leaned toward him.
“Then your mother loses everything.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Don't threaten my son.”
Peter's face hardened.
“He isn't your son.”
The words hit the room like a slap.
Wesley looked at Claire.
She didn't move.
Then she said quietly, “He has always been my son.”
Mara's expression softened for one second.
Then she looked away.
Claire noticed.
“You don't want to do this.”
Mara's jaw tightened.
“You have no idea what I want.”
“You were once trying to expose them.”
“I was trying to survive.”
“Then survive differently.”
Mara looked at Wesley.
“Sign.”
Wesley picked up the pen.
Claire stopped him.
“Look at me.”
He did.
“Whatever happens, they don't get to make this choice for you.”
Wesley lowered the pen.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot echoed.
Everyone dropped.
When the emergency lights came on, Mara was gone.
So was the folder.
Peter was on the floor.
Wesley was bleeding from his shoulder.
Claire rushed toward him.
“Are you okay?”
He nodded.
“It grazed me.”
Samuel entered with officers.
“Where's Mara?”
No one answered.
Then Claire saw the empty table.
The original succession agreement was gone.
May you like
Mara had taken it.
And with it, she had the power to challenge the entire inheritance.
