I looked up.
“Tell me honestly.”
“Did Clara ever mention being afraid Elliot would abandon the girls?”
“No.”
Margaret sighed.
“She expected something almost as bad.”
She slid several documents across the table.
“The trust was designed with extraordinary protections.”
I frowned.
“What kind of protections?”
“If either parent attempted to exploit the children’s inheritance, the trust automatically allowed a court-appointed guardian to assume complete financial authority.”
I stared at her.
“You mean…”
“If you become the girls’ legal guardian, Elliot loses access.”
My heartbeat quickened.
“Completely?”
“Every dollar connected to the children’s portion of the estate.”
For the first time since Clara’s funeral, hope entered the room.
Margaret leaned forward.
“But there’s a problem.”
“What?”
“Elliot is still their legal father.”
The words landed heavily.
“He can challenge custody.”
“He can.”
“And if he wins?”
She answered quietly.
“He controls nearly everything until the girls become adults.”
I looked toward the staircase where my granddaughters still slept.
No.
That could never happen.
“We’re filing today,” I said.
Margaret nodded.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Within hours, emergency custody petitions had been prepared.
Affidavits were signed.
Evidence was secured.
Copies of Clara’s notebook and recordings were placed inside sealed evidence envelopes.
The originals disappeared into a secure vault.
From that day forward, nothing left my attorney’s office without multiple backups.
If Elliot tried to destroy the evidence…
He was already too late.
The emergency hearing took place three days later.
Elliot arrived wearing another expensive designer suit, looking more irritated than concerned.
His attorney sat beside him flipping casually through paperwork.
Elliot barely acknowledged the girls.
Instead, he leaned toward me and whispered with a smirk.
“You really want this responsibility?”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“They’re my family.”
“They’re expensive.”
“They’re children.”
“They’re baggage.”
The word made my stomach turn.
Before I could respond, the judge entered.
The hearing lasted less than an hour.
The judge questioned Elliot first.
“When was the last time you personally cared for your daughters?”
“I’ve been… occupied.”
“With?”
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