Chapter 14 - THE COUNTERATTACK
By two o'clock that afternoon, the Bennett estate had been transformed into an operational war room.
In the second-floor study, three top family law attorneys, two forensic accountants, and Marcus sat around a long conference table covered with financial ledgers, private investigator reports, and legal precedents.
Evelyn sat near the window, holding a sleeping Ivy in her lap while Lena sat beside her, quietly coloring with her new markers, reassured by Evelyn’s constant, gentle presence.
"Victoria's legal strategy relies on an old loophole in the 2018 adoption decree," explained Arthur Vance, Charles's chief legal counsel. "She claims that when the county social services department processed Lena and Ivy’s initial emergency placement, they failed to conduct a mandatory national registry search for living biological relatives."
"Because Victoria intentionally erased her mailing address from the public registry to avoid her brother's creditors!" Evelyn interjected sharply, keeping her voice low so as not to wake Ivy. "She hid from the world until it was convenient for her!"
"Correct, Mrs. Bennett," Arthur agreed. "Unmasking her fraudulent concealment is key. But courts move slowly. The temporary visitation order goes into effect tomorrow morning at ten. If we refuse to comply, Judge Abernathy will hold Charles in contempt and could order temporary protective custody for the girls in a state facility."
"Over my dead body," Charles stated flatly from the head of the table.
He stood up and walked over to the window, staring out at the snowstorm whipping through the pine trees. He knew that taking the girls and hiding them on his private island in the Grenadines would be easy—he had the jets, the money, and the resources. But running would permanently mark Lena and Ivy’s lives with instability. He had to destroy Victoria’s claim legally, completely, and publicly.
"Marcus," Charles said without turning around.
"Yes, Mr. Bennett?"
"Where did Victoria stay during her years in London?"
"She resided in an apartment complex in Mayfair," Marcus replied. "According to our background intelligence, she operated a high-risk art investment fund that went under during the 2022 market contraction."
"Who were her primary investors?" Charles asked, his eyes narrowing.
"A private equity group based out of Zurich," Marcus answered. "Why?"
May you like
Charles turned around, a slow, calculated smile spreading across his sharp features.
"Because six months ago, the Bennett Group acquired seventy percent of that Zurich equity firm’s parent company," Charles revealed. "Victoria didn't just lose her investors' money, Marcus. She lost my money. Call our Zurich directors. Tell them I want a full forensic audit of Victoria Vance's fund delivered to Judge Abernathy's desk by eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
