Chapter 10 - THE LAWYER’S FINAL PETITION
Peter filed the petition through another attorney’s account.
It accused Eleanor of financial misconduct, abandonment, and attempting to influence Sophie’s testimony for access to the trust.
The supporting documents included bank transfers to Eleanor, private messages, and an unsigned psychological assessment.
Every item was false.
But Peter did not need the accusations to survive permanently.
He needed enough uncertainty to delay the independent audit and keep the trust frozen in its current administrative structure.
His law firm still received fees while disputes remained active.
Grace countered with the original trust, Anna’s letter, and proof that Peter intercepted Eleanor’s correspondence.
The judge ordered a forensic review and prohibited Peter’s firm from accessing any account.
Eleanor was appointed temporary co-protector with the independent bank.
Peter lost the legal power he had been trying to preserve.
The next day, Margaret asked to negotiate.
Her attorney arranged a recorded meeting.
She offered to testify against Peter and Curtis in exchange for reduced charges connected to the financial fraud.
Prosecutors refused to promise leniency for Sophie’s abuse.
Margaret requested to speak to Michael.
He agreed only with Laura and Grace present.
His sister entered wearing jail clothing instead of the crimson gown. Without the house, money, and documents around her, she seemed smaller.
“You think Peter planned everything,” she said.
“He planned enough.”
“He used me.”
“You drugged my daughter.”
“He told me the doses were safe.”
“You slapped her.”
Margaret’s face tightened.
“She would not stop asking questions.”
Michael leaned forward.
“She was asking where I was.”
“I was tired.”
“So was she.”
“I had spent months caring for your house, managing the trust, dealing with doctors—”
“You were paid with stolen money.”
Margaret looked away.
She admitted giving Peter Michael’s schedule. She admitted mailing altered supplements. She admitted forcing Sophie to perform incidents for the camera.
But she insisted she never wanted Michael dead.
“What did Peter promise you?” Michael asked.
“That after Sophie entered Rosewood, I would receive the house.”
“The house belongs to me.”
“He had documents.”
“Forged documents.”
“I know that now.”
“You knew enough then.”
Margaret began crying.
The tears did not move Michael.
He had seen how quickly she produced them during court hearings.
“Where is Peter?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where would he go?”
“He owns a cabin under another name.”
Laura slid a map across the table.
Margaret circled a location near Hocking Hills.
Police reached the cabin that evening.
It was empty.
The fireplace remained warm.
On a desk sat Peter’s passport, cash, and a sealed legal envelope addressed to Sophie.
Inside was a confession written in Margaret’s name.
It stated that she alone designed the trust fraud, drugged Michael, injured Sophie, and arranged the warehouse accident.
Peter had prepared to make his accomplice carry every crime.
Margaret read the document and finally understood that no loyalty existed between them.
“He said we would leave together,” she whispered.
“He left you a confession,” Laura replied.
Margaret gave police access to an encrypted cloud account she had previously protected.
One message from Peter had been sent hours earlier:
The child still remembers the spilled glass. Remove the kitchen sample before they test it again.
Laura looked toward the evidence list.
The broken glass, wet cloth, and bucket had all been collected.
But one item from the dining room had not.
May you like
The water beneath the table had drained through a loose tile before officers sampled it.
👉 Peter’s message suggested the “spilled water” contained evidence more important than the sedative already found on the cloth.
