“Of course they do.”
“No.”
Talia placed the trust on the table.
“They pass first to Lenora’s lineal descendants, if any can be located.”
The room went silent.
My stomach dropped.
I looked toward Lenora.
She nodded.
“Enoch knew about Evelyn.”
Thad shouted.
“He told us she was dead!”
“He believed she might be,” Lenora said. “But he wasn’t certain.”
Talia turned one page.
“The trust includes something else.”
Marisol stopped breathing.
“A forfeiture clause.”
Thad’s mouth tightened.
“If any secondary beneficiary knowingly discovers a surviving lineal descendant and intentionally conceals that person’s existence from Lenora or the trustees, that beneficiary forfeits all future beneficial interest.”
Lenora looked directly at Thad.
“You found Coraly.”
He said nothing.
“You knew she was Evelyn’s daughter.”
Silence.
“And instead of bringing my granddaughter to me, you married her to get her kidney and planned to throw her away before she discovered she was my heir.“
Marisol shook her head rapidly.
“No.”
Talia tossed another report onto the table.
“Private investigator invoice.”
Another.
“Genealogy report.”
Another.
“Internal email.”
Thad stared at the page.
Talia read the subject line aloud.
CONFIRMED DESCENDANT — DO NOT DISCLOSE TO L.B.
Lenora began crying.
