THE BRIDE WHO WAS NEVER MEANT TO LEAVE

Geneviève de Valmont had been dead for twenty years.

Yet somehow, she was still controlling the most dangerous secrets in the family.

Claire drove them to her office in Lyon, where they could review the documents without Catherine's surveillance.

Elodie sat across from her mother in a quiet conference room.

Marie had been released temporarily into the care of an independent physician after Claire challenged the facility's refusal to allow outside medical review.

For the first time in years, Marie could make decisions without Catherine's representatives standing over her.

But freedom had come at a price.

Catherine now knew where they were.

Claire placed a copy of Geneviève's testament on the table.

"This is extraordinary."

Alexandre leaned forward.

"What is?"

"Geneviève anticipated a dispute over the protected shares."

Claire pointed to a paragraph.

"She created an independent protector role and established strict conditions for removing or replacing that person. She also required that any extraordinary transfer involving Aurelia Holdings be supported by a documented family consultation."

Elodie frowned.

"Does that mean Catherine can use me?"

"Not legally. But she can use your apparent participation to make a fraudulent transaction look less suspicious."

Claire continued.

"Under the settlement, a lawful spouse may receive information and provide an acknowledgment, but cannot authorize a transfer alone. The transfer also requires approval from the independent protector and the relevant corporate governing bodies."

"Who is the protector?" Alexandre asked.

Claire turned a page.

"Originally, a lawyer named Étienne Marchand."

"He's dead," Alexandre said.

"Yes. He died eight years ago."

"Who replaced him?"

Claire hesitated.

"According to the documents Catherine filed, a woman named Anne Martin."

Elodie stared at her.

"Anne Martin?"

"Your mother's assumed name."

Marie went pale.

"I never accepted that position."

Claire looked at her.

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

"Then someone forged your appointment."

Alexandre stood.

"Mother."

Claire nodded.

"And that explains why she chose Elodie."

Elodie looked confused.

"How?"

"Because your mother was named as the supposed protector, and your father was connected to the records. Catherine may be trying to create a false chain of family consent using both generations."

Marie covered her mouth.

"She forged my signature."

"Possibly more than once."

Elodie stared at the documents.

"So she needs me because I'm connected to the person she pretended was protecting the trust."

"Yes. She may hope that your marriage and acknowledgment will help support a fabricated narrative that your family knew about and accepted the restructuring."

Alexandre looked toward the window.

"Mother told me Geneviève hated outsiders."

Marie shook her head.

"Geneviève believed that people without money deserved the same protection as people who had it."

Elodie felt a strange ache in her chest.

"Did she know me?"

Marie smiled sadly.

"She held you when you were a baby."

Elodie looked up.

"Really?"

"She said you had your father's stubbornness and my eyes."

Marie wiped away a tear.

"She also said that if anything ever happened to her, she hoped someone would be brave enough to protect the people her foundation was meant to serve."

Alexandre sat down slowly.

"Mother spent my entire childhood telling us Geneviève was cruel."

"She wasn't," Marie said.

"She was the only person in that family who understood what Catherine was becoming."

Claire's phone rang.

She answered.

Her expression changed.

"Are you certain?"

She listened.

Then ended the call.

"That was a colleague at the commercial registry."

Alexandre stood.