Chapter 4: The Woman Behind the Betrayal
For several seconds, Benjamin Carter said nothing.
He stood in the middle of his own hotel, holding a phone against his ear, listening to the woman he had trusted for twenty-two years accuse his daughter of lying.
Across the lobby, Naomi held Grace against her chest.
She could hear Evelyn's voice through the phone, but not every word.
What she could hear was enough.
"Benjamin, are you listening to me?"" Evelyn demanded.
"I'm listening.""
"Then you need to understand that Naomi has been manipulating you for years. She knows exactly how to make herself look helpless.""
Benjamin looked at his daughter.
Naomi was gently adjusting Grace's blanket. Her cheek was still red.
"Manipulating me?"" he repeated.
"Yes. You weren't there when she arrived. You don't know what happened.""
"I've seen the footage.""
A pause.
Then Evelyn laughed nervously.
"Footage can be misleading.""
"There's audio, Evelyn.""
"Well, perhaps she provoked Victoria.""
Benjamin's expression hardened.
"Victoria slapped her.""
"Benjamin, please. Don't make this into something it isn't.""
"She was holding our granddaughter.""
"I understand that, but—"
"Don't.""
His voice was quiet.
Evelyn fell silent.
Benjamin turned toward Daniel, who was standing beside him with a folder.
"Tell me why my wife's name is attached to an instruction preventing my daughter from accessing a suite I personally authorized.""
Evelyn immediately answered.
"Because I was trying to protect the family.""
"From what?""
"From Naomi.""
Naomi heard her name and looked up.
Benjamin noticed.
He turned slightly away from her.
"Explain.""
Evelyn exhaled sharply.
"She's been making unreasonable demands. Ever since her husband died, she's expected everyone to rearrange their lives around her. I thought giving her a private suite would encourage her to become dependent on you again.""
Benjamin stared at the floor.
"She's twenty-eight years old. She's my daughter.""
"And I'm your wife.""
"Those things aren't mutually exclusive.""
"Apparently, they are when it comes to you.""
Benjamin closed his eyes briefly.
For years, Evelyn had presented herself as the woman who held the family together.
She organized charity events, attended corporate dinners, remembered birthdays, and smiled beautifully for photographs.
When Benjamin married her, Naomi had been six years old.
Evelyn had been kind to the little girl in the beginning.
She bought her dresses, attended school performances, and helped her prepare for piano recitals.
But as Naomi grew older, the relationship changed.
Evelyn began making small comments.
Naomi was too emotional.
Naomi expected too much attention.
Naomi was becoming spoiled.
Benjamin had occasionally noticed the tension, but whenever he asked about it, Evelyn blamed Naomi's grief over her biological mother, who had died when Naomi was very young.
He had believed her explanations.
Now he wondered how many things he had failed to see.
"Did you tell Victoria Whitmore to confront Naomi?"" he asked.
"No.""
"Did you tell Marcus Bell to deny her reservation?""
"I told him to be careful.""
"Careful about what?""
Evelyn hesitated.
Then she said something that made Benjamin's fingers tighten around the phone.
"Naomi wasn't supposed to come alone.""
Benjamin looked up.
"What does that mean?""
"She was supposed to arrive with you.""
"Why?""
"Because I wanted to speak with her before she entered the family suite.""
"About what?""
Another pause.
Then Evelyn lowered her voice.
"About the inheritance.""
Benjamin's eyes narrowed.
"What inheritance?""
Evelyn sighed.
"Benjamin, don't pretend you don't understand. You know what happens when people have children and suddenly expect their families to provide everything.""
Benjamin stared at the phone.
Naomi had inherited nothing from him yet.
His estate planning was private, and no final distribution had been announced.
But there was something Evelyn knew.
Something he had never discussed with her in detail.
"Who told you Naomi was receiving anything?"" he asked.
Evelyn became defensive.
"You're avoiding the question.""
"No. I'm asking one.""
"She has been asking about your estate.""
Benjamin looked toward Naomi again.
His daughter was rocking Grace gently.
"She has never asked me about my estate.""
"Then she's lying to you.""
Benjamin ended the call.
He didn't shout.
He didn't throw his phone.
He simply looked at Daniel.
"Find out everything.""
Daniel nodded.
"About the hotel records?""
"Everything connected to Evelyn's instructions. Emails, calls, access logs, messages, and financial approvals. Preserve it all.""
"Understood.""
Benjamin then approached Naomi.
"Sweetheart, I need to ask you something.""
Naomi looked up.
"Okay.""
"Have you spoken to Evelyn about my estate?""
Naomi frowned.
"No.""
"Not once?""
"Daddy, I don't even know what's in your will.""
Benjamin sat beside her.
"Did she ever ask you about it?""
Naomi hesitated.
Then she nodded.
"Last month, she called me.""
"What did she say?""
Naomi looked down at Grace.
"She asked whether you had discussed the future of Carter Holdings with me.""
Benjamin's jaw tightened.
"What did you tell her?""
"That I didn't want to discuss business while I was pregnant.""
"And?""
Naomi swallowed.
"She said it was important that I understand my responsibilities before Grace was born.""
Benjamin waited.
Naomi continued.
"Then she asked whether you had told me about the family trust.""
Daniel, standing a few feet away, looked up.
Benjamin noticed.
"What family trust?""
Naomi shook her head.
"I don't know, Daddy. I told her I wasn't interested. She got upset.""
"What exactly did she say?""
Naomi's voice became quieter.
"She said that some people only become part of a family when there's something valuable to inherit.""
Benjamin went completely still.
He looked toward Daniel.
"Get the trust documents.""
Daniel nodded.
Then Benjamin turned back to Naomi.
"There's something you need to know.""
"What?""
"Your grandfather established a trust for you when you were born. It was designed to protect you, regardless of what happened to me.""
Naomi blinked.
"I thought you managed everything yourself.""
"I do, but the trust has its own legal protections. Your grandfather wanted you to have something that nobody could take away from you.""
"How much?""
Benjamin gave a faint smile.
"Enough that you never have to worry about paying for Grace's education, healthcare, or future.""
Naomi looked uncomfortable.
"Daddy, I don't need your money.""
"I know.""
"I mean it.""
"I know you do.""
Benjamin gently touched her shoulder.
"That's exactly why I trust you with it.""
Before Naomi could respond, Daniel returned.
He held a thick folder.
"Sir, I found something.""
Benjamin took it.
Daniel lowered his voice.
"The instructions sent to the hotel weren't the only unusual activity. Someone accessed the family trust records yesterday.""
Benjamin looked at him.
"Who?""
Daniel turned the folder around.
The access report showed a name.
Evelyn Carter.
But beneath it was another entry.
An external legal office had downloaded a confidential document.
Benjamin read the name.
Then he looked toward the hotel entrance.
Because the attorney listed on the access report wasn't a stranger.
May you like
It was the lawyer who had drafted Benjamin's will.
And according to the access record, he had been communicating with Evelyn for nearly six months.
