The Music Box On The Marble Floor

Chapter 10 - Victoria’s Counterattack

Victoria filed her challenge before sunrise the next day.

She claimed Elena forged the letter, manipulated Henry, and coached Oliver as part of a long-term attempt to seize the estate. She accused Nathan of exploiting paternity for control of the Ashford corporation. She leaked enough of the allegations to turn the story into public scandal without directly naming the child.

The headlines did not show in Oliver’s presence, but he heard adults whisper.

At school, a classmate asked if he was “the mansion kid.”

Oliver came home to Nathan’s apartment and placed his backpack by the door without speaking.

Nathan had chosen the apartment over the mansion. It had two bedrooms, a narrow kitchen, and a fire escape overlooking an alley. Oliver trusted it more because there were no guards.

“Did I steal the house?” Oliver asked.

Nathan set down the legal folder.

“No.”

“Victoria says Mom planned it.”

“Victoria says whatever keeps her from facing what she did.”

“What if people believe her?”

“Some will.”

Oliver’s eyes filled.

Nathan sat beside him on the sofa. “Truth does not become false because someone rich repeats a lie.”

Oliver leaned against him carefully, as if testing whether closeness would be allowed tomorrow too.

The counterattack reached further. Victoria persuaded two board members to freeze company votes. She challenged Nathan’s guardianship. She claimed Henry lacked mental capacity when he created the trust.

Then the independent trustees found the missing medical evaluations.

Henry had been examined by three doctors on the day he signed the documents. All declared him competent. The signatures were witnessed on video. Victoria had known this because she arranged one of the appointments.

Her challenge began collapsing.

But Victoria was not finished.

She had one remaining weapon.

A former driver willing to testify that Elena accepted money to disappear with Oliver.

Nathan recognized the name.