Chapter 10 - The Reading of the True Will
The grand wooden doors of Courtroom 4 swung closed, locking out the frantic swarm of reporters clamoring in the marble hallway. Inside, the atmosphere was as heavy as a mausoleum. Presiding Judge Eleanor Ross sat at the bench, her sharp eyes scanning the thick stack of notarized documents laid out before her.
On the left side of the aisle sat Victoria and Julian, flanked by three high-priced corporate attorneys. Victoria sat bolt upright, but the nervous twitching of her manicured fingers betrayed her panic. Julian stared at the mahogany floor, clutching his phone like a child waiting for punishment.
On the right side stood Adrian, Kenneth Sterling, and Master Sergeant Marcus Vance. Adrian’s face was unreadable, carved from the same granite as the monument outside.
Judge Ross removed her reading glasses, looking down at Victoria with undisguised contempt. ""Mrs. Vance, for twelve years, this court operated under the assumption that your late husband died intestate, leaving you temporary stewardship over the Vance holdings.""
Victoria cleared her throat, attempting to summon her usual haughty demeanor. ""Your Honor, that has been the established legal precedent. Thomas loved me. He trusted me to manage the estate for our boys.""
""Thomas Vance despised your greed, Victoria,"" Kenneth Sterling interrupted, stepping forward to hand the judge a sealed, wax-stamped envelope. ""This was recovered two hours ago from the central depository in Dover. It contains Captain Vance's primary irrevocable trust, executed three months before his passing, authenticated by two senior military jurists.""
The judge broke the wax seal, unfolding the parchment. As she read the terms silently, the air in the courtroom grew suffocatingly thin.
""The terms are unequivocal,"" Judge Ross announced, her gavel tapping lightly against the desk. ""The entire estate—the family home, the investment portfolio, the land trusts, and all offshore accounts—was transferred into an independent trust upon Thomas Vance’s death. The sole executor and primary beneficiary named is Adrian Thomas Vance.""
""That's impossible!"" Julian blurted out, jumping to his feet. ""What about me? Mom said the house belongs to both of us!""
Judge Ross glared at the teenager until he sank back into his leather chair. ""There is a specific behavioral clause, Mr. Julian Vance. Section Four, Paragraph B: Any attempt by Victoria Vance or her minor dependents to disinherit, defame, or physically abuse Adrian Vance or his lawful dependents results in the immediate and total forfeiture of their living stipends.""
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Victoria stood up abruptly, her chair screeching across the hardwood floor. ""This is a setup! Adrian forged this! I will appeal this to the Supreme Court!""
""You won't have the funds to appeal a parking ticket by midday, Mrs. Vance,"" Sterling said calmly, turning to face her. ""Because we are also filing criminal charges.""
