She listened without interrupting as I told her everything.
The will.
The twenty-eight-million-dollar trust.
Julian.
Raymond.
The birth certificate.
And the allegation that Thomas wasn't Julian's biological father.
When I finished, Celia leaned back in her chair.
“Margaret, I want you to understand something.”
I looked at her.
“Your husband's decision to create a trust doesn't become invalid simply because another relative dislikes it.”
I exhaled.
“Then Raymond can't take everything?”
“He can make allegations and ask a court to examine them. But he needs evidence. Our job is to establish the documents' validity and protect your interests.”
I nodded.
She continued.
“There's something else. Do you understand how much of your husband's business you helped build?”
I almost laughed.
“Oh, I wasn't much of a businesswoman.”
Celia raised an eyebrow.
“Why do you say that?”
“Thomas made the important decisions.”
“Who worked at the original store?”
“We both did.”
