VICTORIA: "I signed documents because your father asked me to manage the estate."
RICHARD: "The document states that it was signed under authority granted by Frank. We are checking whether that authority was valid at the time."
VICTORIA: "You know I was his representative."
RICHARD: "The original power of attorney did not include every power described in this transfer."
Victoria looked toward Alexander.
He stared down at the table.
Isabella began to see a pattern. The transfers, the changes to the ownership structure, the company accounts, and the disputed signature were not isolated matters. They appeared to be connected.
But she still did not know who had made the decisions or how much each person had known.
She needed the complete records.
ISABELLA: "I want every document related to Harbor House. The original ownership papers, the transfer instructions, the company registration, and the bank records."
RICHARD: "I have copies of most of them. The originals are stored securely."
ISABELLA: "And I want the records of Father's care fund."
RICHARD: "Those are included."
VICTORIA: "You are acting as though you have been appointed to investigate us."
ISABELLA: "I'm asking to see documents that concern my father's estate."
VICTORIA: "You have no idea what it took to keep this family together."
ISABELLA: "Then perhaps you should tell me."
Victoria looked at her daughter with an expression that was difficult to read.
For a moment, Isabella thought her mother might finally explain what had happened. She thought Victoria might admit that the family had been struggling, that mistakes had been made, or that decisions had been taken without proper consideration.
Instead, Victoria stood.
VICTORIA: "I will not sit here while you allow this man to accuse me of betraying my husband."
Richard remained seated.
RICHARD: "No one is asking you to admit anything. We are asking you to explain the records."
VICTORIA: "I have nothing more to say tonight."
She turned toward the door.
Isabella watched her.
ISABELLA: "Mother, wait."
Victoria stopped but did not turn around.
ISABELLA: "Did Father know that Harbor House was being transferred?"
Victoria remained silent.
ISABELLA: "Did he know the money was going into Alexander's company?"
Still no answer.
ISABELLA: "Did he ask you to keep me away from the estate?"
Victoria slowly turned.
VICTORIA: "Your father wanted peace. You were always making everything difficult."
ISABELLA: "I was asking questions."
VICTORIA: "You were questioning every decision we made."
ISABELLA: "Because nobody would explain anything."
Victoria's voice became colder.
VICTORIA: "You have your career. You have your uniform. You have all these people who seem to think you are important. Why can't that be enough for you?"
Isabella looked at her mother for a long moment.
ISABELLA: "Because being respected by strangers doesn't replace being loved by your own family."
Victoria's expression flickered.
But she quickly recovered.
VICTORIA: "I did what I believed was necessary."
Then she left the room.
Alexander remained seated for a few seconds before standing as well.
ALEXANDER: "This isn't over."
Richard looked at him.
RICHARD: "No. It isn't."
Alexander followed his mother into the corridor.
When the door closed, Isabella sat quietly.
She looked at the envelope containing her father's letter. Her fingers moved over the folded edge, but she still did not open it.
MASTER CHIEF HAYES: "Admiral, would you like a few minutes?"
ISABELLA: "Yes. Thank you."
Hayes nodded and stepped outside, leaving Richard with her.
Richard sat opposite Isabella.
RICHARD: "I know this is a great deal to take in."
ISABELLA: "I don't know what to believe anymore."
RICHARD: "You don't have to decide tonight."
ISABELLA: "I spent years thinking Father was disappointed in me."
Richard's expression softened.
RICHARD: "He was never disappointed that you chose the Navy."
Isabella looked up.
RICHARD: "He worried about the distance between you. He worried that the family had become so divided that you might never feel comfortable coming home again. But he was proud of what you accomplished."
Isabella swallowed.
ISABELLA: "Why didn't he tell me?"
RICHARD: "He tried. There were times when he wanted to speak with you privately, but he was not always given the opportunity."
ISABELLA: "By Mother?"
Richard paused.
RICHARD: "I don't want to make assumptions. I can only tell you what the records show."
Isabella looked down.
RICHARD: "There are copies of messages in the file. Some were sent from the estate. Others were sent from your father's personal account. We need to establish who had access to those accounts and who controlled the communications."
ISABELLA: "You think someone was keeping us apart."
RICHARD: "I think your father was concerned that important information was not reaching you."
Isabella finally opened the envelope.
Inside was a single handwritten letter, folded into three sections. The paper had softened with age, and a small stain appeared near the bottom corner.
She recognized the first line immediately.
"My dearest Isabella."
She stopped reading.
For a moment, she could not continue.