Chapter 7 - The Castellano Heir Clause
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The Castellano family attorney arrived shortly after midnight.
Jonathan Reeves had represented Dominic’s father for nearly thirty years.
When Dominic mentioned “the trust,” Jonathan became very quiet.
“You know.”
“I know several trusts.”
“Don’t do that.”
Jonathan sighed.
“The Castellano Legacy Trust.”
Vivienne turned away.
Dominic looked at her.
Then back at Jonathan.
“Explain.”
The trust had been created by Dominic’s grandfather.
It held voting shares in three major family companies, several properties, and investment assets.
Dominic controlled the businesses operationally.
But ownership succession followed strict terms.
If Dominic had a biological child before his father’s death, that child became the primary next-generation beneficiary.
If he had no biological child, the next branch of the family inherited.
That meant Matteo.
And after Matteo’s death, certain rights passed through his estate.
To Vivienne.
Dominic stared at her.
“How much?”
Jonathan answered carefully.
“Potentially controlling voting rights after Dominic’s death, plus significant current trustee influence.”
Vivienne’s face hardened.
“This is disgusting.”
Dominic ignored her.
“When did my father die?”
“Seven years ago.”
“And Maisie?”
“Eight.”
Silence.
Maisie had been alive for almost a year before the succession date.
If Dominic was her father, the legal structure changed.
Vivienne had spent eight years benefiting from a world in which Dominic had no child.
Maisie’s existence could unwind portions of that structure.
Not because she would suddenly own everything.
But because the trust had been administered under a false assumption.
Dominic looked at Vivienne.
“You knew.”
“No.”
“You knew enough to hide her.”
“I knew Elena was making claims.”
“Claims?”
“She wanted money.”
Grace stood.
“She never asked you for money.”
Vivienne laughed.
“She didn’t have to.”
Jonathan raised one hand.
“There’s another issue.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
“The trust requires notification within twelve months of a potential heir’s birth.”
Dominic’s expression changed.
“And nobody notified it.”
“No.”
“So Maisie loses her rights?”
Vivienne smiled.
Jonathan shook his head.
“Not necessarily.”
Her smile vanished.
“If the failure to notify resulted from fraud, concealment, coercion, or interference, the time requirement can be suspended.”
Dominic looked directly at Vivienne.
The attorney continued.
“But we would need evidence.”
Dominic held up Elena’s recovered flash drive.
“We have some.”
“Some won’t be enough.”
Jonathan explained what they needed.
Original medical records.
Evidence Dominic was identified as father.
Evidence someone deliberately altered or concealed those records.
And preferably a witness.
Grace looked at the floor.
“There was a nurse.”
“Name?”
“Margaret Bell.”
Jonathan immediately began searching.
Dominic looked at Grace.
“Is she alive?”
Grace nodded slowly.
“I think so.”
Vivienne suddenly said—
“She won’t help you.”
Dominic turned.
“You seem very informed.”
Vivienne realized the mistake.
Jonathan noticed too.
“Why wouldn’t she help?”
Vivienne said nothing.
Grace went pale.
“Oh my God.”
“What?”
“Elena told me Margaret left Saint Matthew’s suddenly.”
Dominic looked at Vivienne.
“When?”
Grace answered.
“A week after Maisie was born.”
May you like
👉 The nurse who could prove Maisie’s identity had disappeared almost immediately after her birth—and Vivienne knew far too much about why.
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