Chapter 4 - ELAINE HAD KNOWN FOR MONTHSElaine pretended the amendment surprised her.
It didn’t.
Samuel showed us emails.
She found out two months after Richard died.
From a banker.
She immediately tried to challenge.
Claimed Richard lacked capacity.
Failed.
Then she tried another argument.
Undue influence.
Against whom?
Me.
Elaine claimed I manipulated Richard through Emma.
Ridiculous.
Richard and I were cordial, not close.
Then she alleged Lucas pressured him.
Also false.
Independent medical records showed Richard was competent.
The amendment stood.
Elaine stopped fighting publicly.
And started targeting Emma privately.
Small things first.
“She shouldn’t sit in Richard’s chair.”
“Don’t let her touch that piano.”
“That necklace is for real Bennett women.”
Then:
“Children shouldn’t think they own houses.”
Emma had no idea she was connected to the trust.
We had never told her.
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Elaine was fighting an inheritance battle with a child who didn’t know there was a battle.
That was what made it monstrous.
