Chapter 14 - The Unexpected Visit
The name on the guardian petition was Victoria Vance.
Julian stared at the signature line in complete disbelief. Victoria was his elder sister—a woman who had relocated to London four years ago after losing a bitter proxy battle for control of Vance Holdings' overseas operations. She had rarely called, sent polite holiday cards to Leo, and maintained an icy, formal distance from Julian’s life.
"She was behind this?" Clara asked, reading the legal affidavit over Julian’s shoulder. "Your own sister conspired with your housekeeper to take your son?"
"Victoria always believed our father made a mistake leaving me the controlling shares," Julian said, his voice flat, dangerously cold. "When Eleanor died, Victoria told me to step down as CEO. She said I was emotionally unfit to run a multibillion-dollar corporation. When I refused, she went to London. Or so I thought."
Before Julian could call Frank back into the room, the internal intercom on the nursery wall chimed with three sharp tones.
Julian hit the speaker button. "Frank, what is it?"
"Julian, we have a vehicle at the main perimeter gate," Frank’s voice crackled through the speaker, tight with urgency. "It’s not the media. It’s a private limousine service. Victoria Vance is sitting in the back seat, and she has two corporate attorneys with her."
Clara instinctively turned toward the hallway where Leo was playing. "She’s here? Now?"
"Keep Leo upstairs," Julian told Clara, his protective instincts surging to the surface. "Take him to the private playroom in the east wing. Lock the inner suite door. Frank, do not open the main gate until I am at the guardhouse."
"Understood," Frank replied.
Julian turned to Clara. For a second, the billionaire titan was gone, replaced by a father desperate to shield his child. "Clara, whatever happens down there, do not bring Leo down. Victoria has never cared about him. If she’s here, she already knows Evelyn’s network was compromised."
"I won't let anyone near him, Julian," Clara said fiercely. "You have my word."
Julian took a breath, pocketed the prescription log and the petition, and marched down the grand double staircase to the foyer.
By the time Julian reached the front portico, Frank had already allowed the black town car through the gates under heavy security escort. The car came to a smooth stop on the gravel roundabout. The driver hopped out, opening the rear door.
Victoria Vance stepped onto the stone courtyard. At forty-two, she was sharply dressed in a tailored charcoal wool coat, her silver-streaked hair pulled into an immaculate chignon. She wore dark designer sunglasses despite the afternoon overcast, removing them slowly as her cold gray eyes met Julian’s.
"Hello, little brother," Victoria said smoothly, walking toward the steps without waiting for an invitation. "You’re looking surprisingly composed for a man whose domestic life was just paraded across the tabloids."
Julian stood squarely in the center of the doorway, blocking the entrance. "You have three seconds to turn around and get back in that car, Victoria."
"Don't be dramatic, Julian," she said, motioning to the two men in dark suits behind her. "These are Mr. Harrison and Mr. Vance-Smyth from our London legal team. I flew eleven hours overnight the moment I heard about Evelyn’s arrest. It’s tragic, really. To think you allowed a common criminal to mistreat poor Eleanor’s child right under your nose."
"You arranged it," Julian said, stepping down one step, his presence towering and menacing. "I have the ledger, Victoria. I have the petition you drafted to seize custody of Leo. I have the Albatross Advisory wire transfers linked directly to Eleanor’s estate."
Victoria’s expression didn't waver. Not a flicker of fear touched her polished features. Instead, she let out a low, patronizing chuckle.
"Julian, you always were so quick to blame the person standing in front of you," she said, leaning in slightly. "You think Evelyn was working for me? You fool. Evelyn was Eleanor’s confidante before you ever met her. If you actually read the founding documents of Albatross Advisory, you’d know who funded it."
Victoria reached into her designer handbag, pulled out an embossed card, and pressed it against Julian’s chest.
May you like
"Evelyn wasn't stealing from you for me, Julian," Victoria whispered, her words dripping with venom. "She was executing Eleanor’s final instructions."
***
