I was waiting for him to finish accumulating the wealth.
I needed the empire to be as vast as possible. More importantly, I was waiting for him to commit the ultimate, undeniable act of fraud—the very act he was executing right now, on his deathbed, in front of a licensed attorney. By signing those assets over to Melissa through a trust designed to bypass probate and marital asset division, he wasn’t just cheating on his wife; he was actively attempting to launder illicitly obtained, tax-evaded funds.
I set my porcelain teacup down on the metal tray. It made a soft, final *clink* that seemed to echo in the quiet room.
I walked slowly, deliberately, toward his bedside. My shadow fell over Melissa, forcing her to instinctively step back. I didn’t look at her. I didn’t look at his mother. My eyes were locked entirely on Victor. The dying king.
