“She won’t remember what she signed.”
A few people shifted in their seats.
My mother looked down.
Olivia continued.
The recording played from a meeting Blake had held three days after my father’s funeral.
“She’s grieving. She’s emotional. She trusts me.”
A pause.
Then my mother’s voice.
“I told you she has always depended on other people.”
My stomach tightened.
Hearing her voice was somehow worse than hearing Blake’s.
Because Blake had betrayed me.
But my mother had helped him.
“I can convince the court she wasn’t thinking clearly,” my mother continued.
“I’m her mother. They’ll believe me.”
The courtroom went completely still.
Even Blake looked toward her.
Not because he was surprised.
Because he realized she was no longer useful.
She was evidence.
The judge looked at my mother.
“Mrs. Bennett.”
My mother lifted her chin.
“Yes, Your Honor?”
“Did you make this statement?”
Her lips parted.
Then closed.
A lifetime of controlling conversations did not prepare her for a judge who waited silently for answers.
“I was concerned about my daughter.”
The judge did not react.
“Concern does not explain false testimony.”
My mother’s face changed.
Just for a second.
But everyone saw it.
Olivia opened another folder.
“Your Honor, we also have financial records showing more than $1.6 million transferred through three separate companies created shortly after Mr. Bennett’s death.”
Blake’s attorney frowned.
“These companies were legitimate investments.”
Olivia nodded.
“Interesting.”
She placed documents on the screen.
“Because two of these companies list Mr. Mercer’s cousin as the owner.”
Another page appeared.
“And the third company was registered using an address connected to Mr. Mercer’s private office.”
The judge leaned forward.
“Mr. Mercer?”
Blake said nothing.
For the first time since I entered the courtroom, he looked exactly like what he was.
Cornered.
Then came the final piece.
The altered agreement.
The document Blake had presented as proof that I willingly gave him authority.
Olivia placed it in front of the judge.
“Your Honor, the original agreement was recovered from my client’s father’s estate files.”
She opened the second copy.
“The version presented by Mr. Mercer contains an additional page.”
The judge compared the documents.
Her expression changed.
“What is this?”
Olivia answered calmly.
“The signature page is authentic. The added pages were inserted afterward.”
A murmur moved through the courtroom.
Blake’s face went pale.
For full cooking steps, turn to the next page or click the Open button (>) and don't forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
