VICTORIA: "He understood what he was signing."
Richard did not look away from the document.
RICHARD: "Then there should be no reason to object to an independent examination."
Alexander's expression tightened.
ALEXANDER: "What does the document say?"
Richard turned the page toward him.
RICHARD: "It changes the distribution of certain assets and gives additional authority to a family representative."
Isabella read the names.
Her own name appeared in the original arrangement, but the later document reduced her involvement and assigned broader control to another party.
She looked at the signature.
It was supposed to be her father's.
Yet something about it seemed wrong.
ISABELLA: "This doesn't look like his handwriting."
Victoria immediately responded.
VICTORIA: "You haven't seen his writing in years. You cannot make that judgment."
ISABELLA: "I grew up reading his letters."
VICTORIA: "People's handwriting changes when they become ill."
RICHARD: "That is a possibility. Which is why we have requested a professional handwriting examination."
He pointed to the date.
RICHARD: "We also have a copy of Frank's hospital schedule. On the date shown here, he was receiving treatment at a medical facility. We are checking whether the document could have been signed under the circumstances described."
Isabella looked at her mother.
ISABELLA: "Were you with him that day?"
Victoria did not answer.
ISABELLA: "Mother?"
VICTORIA: "I don't remember every day from that period."
RICHARD: "The appointment records may help establish that."
Alexander reached for the paper.
Richard pulled it back before he could touch it.
ALEXANDER: "Stop treating us like criminals."
RICHARD: "No one has made a final determination. But I will not allow original documents to be removed or altered."
The security officers moved a little closer.
Alexander looked around the room, realizing that the situation was no longer under his control.
For years, he had relied on the family name to settle disagreements. When someone questioned his decisions, Victoria intervened. When he made financial mistakes, the family covered the consequences. When Isabella challenged him, he used their mother's approval as proof that he was right.
That strategy had worked in private.
It was failing in front of four hundred witnesses.
Victoria turned toward Isabella.
VICTORIA: "You need to understand something. Your father was not an easy man to care for. He could be stubborn. He changed his mind constantly. He did not always understand what was best for the family."
Isabella's voice was quiet.
ISABELLA: "He was my father."
VICTORIA: "And I was his wife."
ISABELLA: "Then why does every document seem to suggest that someone was making decisions without him?"
Victoria looked at her daughter for a long moment.
VICTORIA: "Because you don't know everything."
ISABELLA: "Then tell me."
Victoria's eyes shifted toward Alexander.
Again, she said nothing.
Richard closed the folder.
RICHARD: "I think we should move to a private room. There are matters here that should not be discussed in the middle of a public event."
Isabella nodded.
MASTER CHIEF HAYES: "I'll arrange for an officer to accompany you."
ISABELLA: "Thank you. But please let the guests return to the program. They came here for the veterans, not for my family."
Hayes gave a respectful nod.
The event coordinator approached the stage and quietly spoke to the orchestra. The musicians began preparing to resume the evening's program.
The guests slowly returned to their seats, although many continued to watch the Montgomery family.
Alexander remained beside the table, his jaw clenched.
Victoria picked up her champagne glass, but she did not drink.
Richard gathered the documents carefully and placed them back inside the briefcase. Isabella held the envelope containing her father's letter.
As they began walking toward a private meeting room, Alexander followed them.
ALEXANDER: "I'm coming too."
RICHARD: "You can attend if you wish, but you will not interfere with the documents."
ALEXANDER: "I don't need your permission."
MASTER CHIEF HAYES: "You do need to respect the instructions given by event security. If you want to discuss the matter, you can do so calmly."
Alexander stopped arguing.
They entered a quiet room adjacent to the ballroom. It was used for private meetings during the gala, with a long conference table, several leather chairs, and a window overlooking the illuminated courtyard.
Richard placed the briefcase on the table.
Isabella sat opposite him.
Victoria chose a chair near Alexander, while Master Chief Hayes remained by the door.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Richard opened the briefcase and removed a large envelope containing copies of the original trust documents.
RICHARD: "Before we go through the transactions, I want to explain the arrangement Frank established."
He spread several pages across the table.
RICHARD: "Harbor House was placed under a protective structure. Its purpose was to preserve the property and ensure that it remained available for the uses Frank specified. The care fund was separate, although both arrangements were connected through the same estate plan."
Isabella looked at the diagram.
ISABELLA: "Who was responsible for managing it?"
RICHARD: "A designated administrator, with limited authority. Certain decisions required independent approval. Your father deliberately included those restrictions because he did not want one person to have complete control."