Maya, meanwhile, viewed Marcus as a cold controller who used his position as executor to dictate how she lived her life. Every time she needed a portion of her mother's trust to cover medical bills or design software licenses, Marcus subjected her to an interrogation that felt more like a courtroom cross-examination.
And caught in the middle was Arthur.
Grieving his wife and declining in health, Arthur had stepped back from the family's affairs, preferring to let Marcus handle the paperwork while he spent his days tending to the garden and reading history books. He had trusted his son implicitly.
Until tonight.
Chapter 5: The Secondary Account
As Arthur swiped through the files on the tablet, his thumb froze on a spreadsheet dated two months prior.
It was a ledger detailing a series of smaller, recurring transfers—each under $10,000—moving from the main family trust into an unlisted domestic account under the name M. VANCE ENTERPRISES.
Arthur lowered his reading glasses, his eyes fixing on Marcus.
"Marcus," Arthur said quietly. "What is M. Vance Enterprises?"
Marcus's rigid posture stiffened even further. The confidence that had radiated from him moments ago seemed to falter for a microsecond before his professional mask slid back into place.
"That's the corporate entity I set up for the property development deal in New Haven," Marcus explained smoothly, though his voice had lost its thunderous tone. "I told you about it in July, Dad. We're leveraging a small portion of the equity to buy into a commercial lease. It's all logged."
"Logged where?" Maya interjected, her voice sharp as a razor as she pulled herself up from the floor. "It's logged in your private software! Dad, he didn't tell you anything! He's been using the house as collateral for a commercial loan that's currently ninety days past due!"
"Shut up, Maya!" Marcus snapped, taking a step toward her.