Chapter 4 - The Revelation
In the opulent offices of Harrison & Finch, the prestigious law firm representing the Sterling family, Evelyn and Julian sat across from their lead attorney, Arthur Pendelton's old rival, Harold Finch.
Julian looked miserable, his eyes sunken and tired. For the past month, he had felt a nagging sense of guilt, though he would never admit it to his mother. Evelyn, however, was as regal and combative as ever, draped in a bespoke Chanel tweed suit.
"How long is this going to take, Harold?" Evelyn demanded, checking her diamond-encrusted Cartier watch. "I want this trash cleared from our family ledger. Julian has a charity gala to attend next week with the Vanderbilt heiress, and we cannot have this pregnant gold-digger hanging over his head."
"We just received the counter-filing from Clara’s counsel," Harold said, his expression unusually grim. He adjusted his glasses, looking at the documents in front of him with utter disbelief.
"Well? Did she accept the fifty thousand?" Evelyn sneered. "Of course she did. She probably jumped at the chance."
"No, Evelyn," Harold said slowly. "She rejected it. Completely."
Julian shifted in his chair. "Does she want more money? How much, Harold? Just pay her so we can move on."
"She doesn't want your money, Julian," Harold said, rubbing his temples. "In fact, she has filed for divorce on the grounds of constructive abuse and abandonment, and she is seeking sole legal and physical custody. She is asking for zero child support."
Evelyn laughed hysterically. "Zero child support? The fool! She’s stupider than I thought. How does she expect to raise a child in New York on her own? On a waitress’s salary?"
"She isn't a waitress, Evelyn," Harold said, his voice deadly serious. He slid a heavy financial disclosure document across the polished mahogany table. "Take a look at her certified financial assets."
Evelyn snatched the paper, her eyes scanning down the page. Julian leaned in to look over her shoulder.
As they read, the color completely drained from Evelyn’s face. Her jaw dropped, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. Julian gasped, clutching the edge of the table.
"This... this must be a mistake," Evelyn stammered, her voice suddenly high-pitched and cracked. "This says she has... $3.2 million in a private trust? And she is the sole owner of Pendelton Holdings? The Arthur Pendelton was her grandfather?!"
"It is no mistake," Harold sighed. "Her trust cleared probate a week before you threw her out. She is the sole heiress to the Pendelton estate. And it gets worse. Much worse."
"How can it get any worse?" Julian whispered, his voice trembling.
"Pendelton Holdings is the parent company of Aegis Acquisitions," Harold revealed. "The company that just purchased the three parcels of land surrounding your Long Island City development. Clara owns the land, Julian. She owns the easement. She has officially blocked your project. If you don't get her permission to build, your development is dead in the water, and the Sterling Group will face bankruptcy from the defaulted loans."
The silence in the conference room was suffocating.
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Julian slowly turned to his mother, his face pale with a mixture of shock, anger, and sudden, crushing regret. "Mother... what have we done?"
Evelyn, for the first time in her life, had absolutely nothing to say.
