Chapter 4: The Vault of Memories
The small community bank in Elara's hometown was a stark contrast to the towering glass structures of the Vance empire. The bank manager, an elderly man who remembered Clara’s quiet, kind demeanor, escorted them to the vault.
Elara inserted the brass key. Arthur provided the certified, notarized DNA results. The heavy metal drawer slid open with a metallic scrape.
Inside was a stack of letters, bundled together with a faded blue ribbon. There was no money, no stock certificates, no deeds to mansions. Just paper.
Elara carefully untied the ribbon and opened the first letter. It was dated twenty-five years ago, written by Eleanor to Clara.
My dearest Clara, If you are reading this, it means my mind has finally failed me, or the world has taken me. I am so sorry. I let your father’s obsession with the company blind me to your pain. I let Julian’s ambition turn this family into a business. I hid this box because I knew, one day, you would need to know the truth. You were never disinherited by me. The wealth means nothing without you. I have drafted a secret, holographic will, legally binding and filed with a private magistrate. It supersedes everything Victoria thinks she controls.
Elara’s hands shook as she pulled the final document from the bottom of the box. It was a handwritten will, signed and sealed by Eleanor Vance. It stated clearly that upon Eleanor’s incapacitation, the majority voting shares of the Vance Syndicate were to be placed in a trust—managed not by Julian, and certainly not by Victoria, but by Clara, or Clara’s descendants.
"My god," Arthur breathed, reading over her shoulder. "Victoria didn't just steal your identity. She’s trying to steal a company that legally belongs to you."
"I don't want the company, Arthur," Elara said, shaking her head. "I just want my grandmother. I want her to know I'm real before she forgets entirely."
"You have to take the company to save her," Arthur explained gently. "Victoria is moving to have Eleanor declared legally incompetent. Once she does, Victoria gains power of attorney. She’ll put Eleanor in a state-run facility to save money and liquidate the assets. You have to fight, Elara. Not for the money. For Eleanor."
The reality of the situation crashed over Elara. She thought of her mother, working night shifts at diners to buy Elara nursing textbooks. She thought of Eleanor, trapped in a wheelchair, surrounded by vipers.
Elara’s tears dried up, replaced by a steel resolve she didn't know she possessed. She placed the letters back into the box and looked at Arthur.
"When is the next board meeting?" Elara asked.
May you like
"Tomorrow morning," Arthur replied. "Victoria is planning to finalize the medical conservatorship over Eleanor."
"Then we better get some sleep," Elara said, her voice cold, steady, and terrifyingly similar to Julian’s. "We have a company to take back."
