Chapter 15 - The Unsealed Will
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The following afternoon, the Vance family legal team gathered in the mansion’s library for the formal reading of Florence Vance’s Last Will and Testament.
Edward sat at the long table, flanked by Mr. Harrison, his mother’s lifelong attorney. Sitting across from them, looking sharp and arrogant, was Carter, representing Victoria from her prison cell.
"Let’s speed this up, Harrison," Carter sneered, opening his notebook. "My client is still the legal spouse of Edward Vance. Under state law, she is entitled to fifty percent of all marital assets and homestead rights to this property."
Mr. Harrison calmly adjusted his reading glasses, sliding a thick, red-bound document across the table.
"Mrs. Victoria Vance would be entitled to marital assets, Mr. Carter," Harrison said dryly, "if the marriage were legally valid."
Carter froze, his eyes narrowing. "What are you talking about? They were married two years ago in Vegas!"
Harrison pulled a certified court document from the file. "Two weeks ago, following Mrs. Vance's arrest, our investigators discovered that Victoria was already legally married to a man in Nevada under her maiden name, Victoria Vance-Smyth. She never filed for divorce."
Carter’s face went completely red. "That’s... that’s impossible."
"It means her marriage to Edward was bigamous and legally void from day one," Harrison stated calmly. "She has zero legal claim to the Vance name, the estate, or a single cent of the trust. Furthermore, Florence’s entire estate has officially transferred to the St. Jude Refuge for Abused Women, with Edward appointed as the sole lifetime trustee."
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Carter slammed his portfolio shut, standing up furiously. "This isn't over! We will contest the trust!"
"Contest all you want, Carter," Edward said quietly, looking up with cold, resolute eyes. "My mother defeated you from beyond the grave."
