“You said the envelope was gone,” he snarled.
The room went silent again.
Olivia’s lips parted.
Peter saw the recorder on the altar and stopped.
Daniel looked at the officers.
“Detective, this is the man identified in William Jennings’s statement and the financial records.”
Peter’s anger turned toward him.
“You have no right to use that.”
“Your former bank manager gave us the account records this morning,” Daniel said. “The forged transfers, the false notary seal, and the payments to your offshore account are all documented.”
Peter’s gaze flicked to Olivia.
“You told me the mother would be out of the way.”
Olivia backed away from him.
“Peter, be quiet.”
“You said Michael would sign everything today.”
“Be quiet.”
“And you said Daniel had nothing.”
Daniel took out his phone and held it up.
“The officers heard that statement clearly.”
Peter’s mouth closed.
The detective stepped forward and placed handcuffs around his wrists.
Peter fought them at first. He shouted that Olivia had planned everything, that she had chosen Michael because he was still grieving his father and would be easy to manipulate, that she had promised him half the estate.
Olivia screamed at him to stop.
Every word made the room colder.
Michael watched as Peter was led away. His shoulders dropped only when the ballroom doors closed behind them.
Olivia remained in the center aisle, surrounded by flowers Clara had paid for.
The detective approached her.
“Ms. Mercer, you are being detained pending charges related to fraud, forgery, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice.”
Olivia looked at Michael.
He did not move.
“Please,” she whispered.
