Chapter 10 - The Evidence of Sabotage
Richard’s eyes narrowed into lethal, dark slits. He pointed a finger at the attorney.
“That is a defamatory, baseless accusation, Samuel. I will sue you for slander.”
“It is not slander when it is heavily documented,” Mr. Pierce replied, tapping the folder.
Vanessa turned her venom back on me, desperate for a target she could understand. She pointed directly at my face.
“She did this!” Vanessa shrieked. “Emily did this! She manipulated Mom while she was dying! She brainwashed her against us!”
I finally found my voice. It rang out through the chapel, loud, clear, and steady.
“I hadn’t seen Mom in person for three years, Vanessa,” I said, looking at the crowd. “Because every single time I tried to visit, someone mysteriously changed her oncology appointment, moved her hospital room, or told the front desk security that I was mentally unstable and a threat to her health.”
“That’s a disgusting lie!” Vanessa yelled, her face contorting.
Mr. Pierce quietly removed a smaller, sealed manila envelope from his leather folder.
“No, Mrs. Vale,” he said, his voice echoing in the rafters. “It is not a lie.”
He held up a thick stack of printed, highlighted pages for the room to see.
“Mrs. Carter explicitly requested that I include copies of emails sent directly from Mr. Vale’s private corporate account to the hospice administration. These emails strictly instructed the nursing staff not to allow Emily Carter any private visitation under the false pretense of 'patient distress'.”
Richard’s face reddened severely. He looked around at the judging eyes of the congregation.
“That was done exclusively for Margaret’s peace of mind!” Richard blustered. “She was too weak for family drama!”
“My mother asked for me,” I said, my voice cracking just slightly with raw emotion.
Vanessa whipped around. “You don’t get to call her that like you were some kind of saint!”
“I am not a saint, Vanessa.”
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“Then what the hell are you?”
I looked directly into Richard Vale's eyes. “I am a witness.”
