She had not been present every day during her father's illness. Her duties had kept her away for long periods, and the distance had caused guilt she rarely discussed. She had called whenever she could. She had arranged leave when circumstances allowed. She had sent money and asked for updates, but she had never been able to replace the time she lost.
Victoria knew that.
And she was using it.
ISABELLA: "I know you were there. I never denied that."
VICTORIA: "Then don't stand here and act as if you understand what happened."
ISABELLA: "I am trying to understand. That's why I'm asking."
Victoria looked at Richard.
VICTORIA: "You should have brought this to me first."
RICHARD: "I did. Several times."
For the first time, Victoria had no immediate response.
Richard opened a small envelope that had been tucked into the back of the folder.
RICHARD: "Frank also left a written statement about his final wishes. It is not a replacement for the legal documents, but it explains why he wanted Isabella to receive the records personally."
He removed a folded sheet of paper.
The handwriting was unmistakably Frank's.
Isabella stared at it, unable to reach for it immediately.
RICHARD: "I suggest you read this when you have a quiet moment. It may answer some questions, but it will also raise others."
He returned the letter to its envelope and placed it beside the folder.
Alexander stepped forward.
ALEXANDER: "Give me that."
Richard did not move.
RICHARD: "No."
ALEXANDER: "I'm his son."
RICHARD: "And Isabella is his daughter. Frank made his decision."
Alexander's face reddened.
ALEXANDER: "You have no right to decide who gets what."
RICHARD: "I am not deciding. I am following the instructions already made."
Isabella reached for the envelope.
Her fingers touched the paper, and she felt the weight of all the years she had spent wondering whether her father had understood why she left.
She had wanted to believe that he supported her. But Victoria had always told her that Frank was disappointed, that he had felt abandoned, and that he had never forgiven her for choosing the Navy.
She had carried those words for years.
Now she wondered whether they had ever been true.
ISABELLA: "Did Father know what Mother said about me?"
Richard nodded slowly.
RICHARD: "He knew more than you might think."
Victoria immediately interrupted.
VICTORIA: "That is enough."
Richard looked at her.
RICHARD: "No, Victoria. It is not."
He took a breath before continuing.
RICHARD: "Frank kept copies of correspondence, financial instructions, and several messages exchanged during the period when Isabella left the estate. He was concerned that the family was becoming divided, but he was even more concerned about the way decisions were being made without his full knowledge."
Isabella looked down at the folder again.
RICHARD: "He asked me to establish a clear record of everything. He wanted to make certain that the property, the care fund, and the arrangements for his dependents could not be changed without proper authorization."
VICTORIA: "He was frightened and suspicious near the end. You encouraged those fears."
RICHARD: "I encouraged him to obtain independent advice. There is a difference."
The ballroom doors opened again as a member of the event's organizing team approached. He spoke quietly with Master Chief Hayes, who nodded and directed him toward the event coordinator.
The formal program had effectively stopped.
Isabella noticed the attention returning to her. She looked at Hayes.
ISABELLA: "Master Chief, I appreciate what everyone has done. But I don't want the benefit to be disrupted because of my family."
MASTER CHIEF HAYES: "Understood, Admiral. Your safety comes first. The event staff can continue once the immediate situation has been handled."
Isabella nodded.
Then she turned back to Richard.
ISABELLA: "I want to see the original documents. All of them."
RICHARD: "I expected you would."
VICTORIA: "You cannot simply take control of everything because he left you a letter."
ISABELLA: "I'm not trying to take control of anything. I want to know what happened to Father’s money and why the records don't match what we were told."
ALEXANDER: "You have no idea what you're getting involved in."
Isabella looked at him.
ISABELLA: "Then explain it."
He said nothing.
She waited.
Alexander glanced toward Victoria again. This time the movement was more obvious. His mother gave him a small shake of her head, almost imperceptible.
Isabella saw it.
She had seen that gesture before. Victoria used it whenever Alexander was about to say something she did not want other people to hear.
RICHARD: "There is another reason I came tonight."
He removed a separate document from the folder.
RICHARD: "The financial records indicate that some of the transfers were connected to a company controlled by Alexander."
Alexander's expression changed immediately.
ALEXANDER: "What company?"
Richard looked at him.
RICHARD: "Montgomery Strategic Holdings."
The name echoed through Isabella's mind.
She had heard it before, although she had never paid much attention. Alexander had mentioned it during one of the rare family calls she had made. He had described it as an investment group that would eventually manage several commercial properties and private ventures.
He had sounded proud of it.