Chapter 25: A Battle for Legacy

Victoria and Nathan's Ruthless Attack

Hope was reviewing the latest reports in Liam's office when her phone buzzed. It was an email from Sinclair Holdings. Her breath caught in her throat as she read the subject line:

"Board Decision: Inheritance Rights Under Review."

Her heart pounded. She clicked on the message, scanning the content quickly. Victoria and Nathan had called an emergency board meeting to challenge her right to any share of the Sinclair estate. They were moving to have her legally disqualified as an heir.

Hope looked up at Liam, her voice tight. "They're trying to erase me completely."

Liam frowned, grabbing his phone. "They must have convinced some board members to support them. We need to act fast."

Hope clenched her fists. "I won't let them win."

Richard is Forced to Choose

Richard stood in front of the massive oak conference table at Sinclair Holdings, his gaze shifting between Victoria and Hope. The entire board was present, their expressions tense.

Victoria leaned forward, placing her perfectly manicured hands on the table. "Hope was never legally adopted. She has no claim to the Sinclair estate."

Murmurs filled the room. Some board members nodded in agreement.

Hope stepped forward, her voice steady. "I may not have been legally adopted, but I was raised as a Sinclair. My father made it clear he considered me his daughter."

Nathan smirked. "Sentiment doesn't count in business, Hope."

Hope turned to Richard, her eyes pleading. "Dad, you know the truth. You took me in, raised me, and told me I was part of this family. Are you really going to let them take that away?"

Richard swallowed hard. His hands clenched at his sides. He knew Victoria's move was calculated she was forcing him to choose between his wife and the daughter he had raised.

Victoria's eyes locked onto him. "Richard, make the right decision for this family."

Silence stretched in the room. Everyone was waiting.

Finally, Richard exhaled, his voice firm. "Hope stays."

Gasps filled the room. Victoria's face darkened. Nathan's smirk vanished.

Hope felt relief rush through her, but she knew this battle wasn't over.

Victoria's Last Move

That night, Victoria sat in her bedroom, her hands gripping her phone as she spoke in hushed tones.

"I need that document buried," she hissed. "If Hope proves she was meant to be in the will, everything we worked for will be gone."

The voice on the other end responded, "Understood. Consider it handled."

Victoria ended the call and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She wasn't going to lose to Hope. Not now. Not ever.

The Final Battle Begins

Hope's Fight for Her Place

Hope sat across from Liam in his office, gripping the armrests of her chair. Her mind raced. Richard had defended her in front of the board, but Victoria wasn't done yet. If she was plotting something, Hope needed to be one step ahead.

"We need proof," she said firmly. "Something that makes my place in the Sinclair family undeniable."

Liam nodded. "I've been digging. And I found something."

He slid a folder toward her. Hope flipped it open and gasped. It was a legal draft of Richard's will from years ago one that included her name.

"This proves he wanted you as his heir," Liam said. "But here's the catch this version was never finalized. The latest version, the one the board sees, has your name removed."

Hope's jaw clenched. "Victoria must have had a hand in that."

Liam smirked. "Which means we just need to find out how she did it."

Victoria's Past Comes to Light

Victoria paced her study, her fingers tapping against the wine glass in her hand. The walls were closing in, and she knew it.

She grabbed her phone and called Nathan. "We need to make sure Hope doesn't find that will."

Nathan chuckled on the other end. "Too late. They're already onto us."

Victoria's grip tightened on her phone. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Nathan said smugly, "someone just leaked information about your past."

Victoria's stomach dropped. "What are you talking about?"

Nathan sighed dramatically. "The board received an anonymous email detailing how you manipulated Richard's first will. And guess what? It's backed with proof."

Victoria's wine glass shattered on the floor.

Richard Confronts Victoria

The next morning, Richard stormed into Victoria's private lounge, his eyes burning with fury. He threw a stack of papers onto the table in front of her.

"Explain this," he demanded.

Victoria's stomach churned as she saw what was in front of her. It was a timeline of all the legal modifications to his will modifications she had orchestrated behind his back.

"Richard, I can explain," she started.

But he wasn't listening. His voice was cold. "You lied to me. You manipulated me into cutting Hope out. And for what? So Nathan could take over the empire?"

Victoria reached for his hand, but he pulled away. "I did it for us. For our family."

Richard shook his head. "Hope is my family. And you betrayed me."

For the first time, Victoria felt something she never had before fear.

Because this time, Richard wasn't going to forgive her.

The Final Showdown

Hope arrived at Sinclair Holdings that afternoon to find the boardroom filled with tension.

Nathan stood confidently at the head of the table. Victoria sat beside him, her face unreadable. Richard stood near the windows, looking out at the city.

"This meeting has one purpose," Richard said, turning to face them. "To determine who truly deserves a place in this family."

Nathan smirked. "That's easy. Hope isn't a legal Sinclair."

Hope took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Actually, I am."

She pulled out the old will the one with her name still on it and placed it in front of the board.

"This was my father's original decision before Victoria tampered with it," she said, locking eyes with Victoria.

Gasps filled the room.

A board member adjusted his glasses. "If this is authentic, it changes everything."

Nathan slammed his fist on the table. "That document is outdated. It doesn't matter."

Richard turned to the board. "Actually, it does. Because as of today, I've reinstated Hope as my rightful heir."

Silence.

Victoria's face turned pale. Nathan's confident smirk vanished.

Hope had won.