Chapter 29 - The Battle for Sinclair Holdings

A War Brewing

Hope arrived at Sinclair Holdings, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she stormed into the boardroom. The tension in the air was suffocating. Seated at the head of the table was Victoria Sinclair, her stepmother, wearing a smug expression.

Around the table, board members whispered among themselves, exchanging nervous glances. At Victoria's side sat a man in a sharp gray suit a lawyer.

Liam was already there, his face tight with worry. When he saw Hope, he stood, ready to back her up.

"Ah, Hope." Victoria's voice dripped with false sweetness. "You're just in time."

Hope crossed her arms. "What are you trying to pull this time, Victoria?"

Victoria smirked, sliding a document across the table. "This," she said, "is Richard's revised will."

Hope's blood ran cold. Revised will?

She grabbed the document, scanning the pages. Her fingers clenched when she saw the clause highlighted in red.

If Hope Sinclair does not legally prove her right to the company within six months of Richard Sinclair's passing, her shares revert to his lawful wife, Victoria Sinclair.

Hope's heart pounded. No. This isn't possible.

She looked up. "This is fake."

Victoria laughed. "Oh, dear, it's very real. And if you don't provide evidence that Richard legally adopted you before he passed, then I become the sole heir."

Hope's pulse skyrocketed. She was adopted, but was it legally documented?

Liam's voice was sharp. "That clause was never in the original will."

Victoria feigned innocence. "Oh, but it was. It just wasn't… found until now."

Hope slammed the paper onto the table. "You had this altered, didn't you?"

Victoria's smirk didn't fade. "Prove it."

Race Against Time

Hope stormed out of the boardroom, Liam on her heels.

"She's bluffing," he said. "There's no way Richard didn't secure your place here."

Hope shook her head. "But what if she's not? What if there's no official adoption record?"

Liam hesitated. "Then we're in trouble."

Hope's mind raced. There had to be proof somewhere.

She thought of Evelyn's words. Richard rescued you.

She pulled out her phone and called Evelyn.

"Evelyn," she said as soon as the woman answered, "I need to know the truth. Did Richard legally adopt me?"

A pause.

Then Evelyn whispered, "No."

Hope's heart stopped. "What?"

Evelyn's voice trembled. "He saved you, Hope. But he never legally adopted you. He was working on it, but…"

Hope's breath caught. He died before he could finish it.

Her hands shook as she lowered the phone.

Victoria had won.

Unless…

Hope lifted her head. No. She wouldn't let this happen.

She turned to Liam, fire in her eyes.

"If there's no legal record, we'll find another way," she said. "We'll dig into Victoria's secrets. She's done something illegal I know it."

Liam nodded. "Then let's bring her down."

Hope had six months to fight back.

And she wasn't about to lose.

Uncovering the Truth

Desperate Search

Hope sat in her office, surrounded by stacks of papers, old files, and her laptop screen flashing with legal documents. Her mind was racing. If Richard had never legally adopted her, then Victoria's claim to Sinclair Holdings was legitimate.

Unless…

There was another way.

She turned to Liam, who sat across from her, scrolling through the company's legal archives. "There has to be something some loophole, some proof that Victoria is lying."

Liam sighed, rubbing his temples. "If she forged that clause, we need to prove it. But without Richard's direct confirmation, it's our word against hers."

Hope clenched her fists. "Then we dig deeper."

Her phone buzzed. It was an unknown number.

Hesitant, she answered. "Hello?"

A deep, unfamiliar voice spoke.

"If you want to know the truth about Victoria Sinclair, meet me at Evergreen Cemetery in an hour."

Hope's breath hitched. "Who is this?"

The line went dead.

She exchanged a look with Liam.

"This could be a trap," he warned.

Hope's jaw tightened. "Or it could be the answer we need."

Mysterious Lead

The sun was setting as Hope pulled up to Evergreen Cemetery, the air thick with the scent of rain. Liam insisted on coming with her, staying close as they approached the meeting spot.

A man in a dark coat stood by a gravestone, his face obscured by the shadows.

Hope's heart pounded. "Are you the one who called me?"

The man turned. His face was rough, aged by time and stress.

"My name is Henry Lawson," he said. "I was Richard Sinclair's lawyer."

Hope's breath caught. "Richard's lawyer? Why haven't I heard of you before?"

He exhaled. "Because Victoria made sure I disappeared."

Hope's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Henry pulled out a worn envelope. "Richard never finalized your adoption, but he did leave a second will a real one. The one Victoria never wanted anyone to see."

Hope's pulse quickened as she took the envelope with trembling hands. "You're saying Victoria hid the real will?"

Henry nodded. "I tried to fight her, but she had powerful connections. I lost my job, my credibility. She made sure no one would believe me. But I held onto this… because I knew one day, you'd come looking."

Hope tore the envelope open.

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

And on it was Richard Sinclair's true final statement.

Hope scanned the words, her heart hammering.

It was all there. The real will, confirming that Hope was meant to inherit Sinclair Holdings.

Tears stung her eyes. Richard had planned to secure her place. Victoria had destroyed that evidence.

But now, Hope had it.

She turned to Liam, eyes blazing. "We're taking her down."

War Declared

Hope sat in her office, gripping the worn envelope tightly. The weight of Richard Sinclair's real will burned in her hands like fire. This was it. This was the proof she needed to destroy Victoria's lies.

Liam stood beside her, his jaw tight. "We need to act fast. If Victoria catches wind of this, she'll do everything in her power to shut us down."

Hope inhaled sharply. "Then let's not waste time."

With a deep breath, she marched out of her office and headed straight for the boardroom.

The Showdown

Victoria Sinclair sat at the head of the table, elegantly dressed, her fingers tapping against the polished wood. The board members were gathered around her, watching as Hope and Liam entered.

Victoria smiled sweetly, but her eyes gleamed with cold malice. "Hope, darling, to what do we owe this… dramatic entrance?"

Hope didn't sit. She slammed the envelope onto the table. "Read it."

Victoria barely spared it a glance. "And what is this supposed to be?"

"The real will," Hope said, voice unwavering. "The one you hid from everyone."

A flicker of emotion fear? flashed across Victoria's face before she scoffed. "I don't know what nonsense you're talking about."

Liam pushed the document toward the board members. "This proves Richard never intended for Hope to be cut out of his inheritance. He wanted her to have Sinclair Holdings."

Murmurs erupted around the room. Some board members flipped through the document, frowns forming.

Victoria's nails dug into the table. "This is ridiculous."

Hope met her gaze. "Is it? Because if this will is authenticated and it will be your entire scheme falls apart."

Victoria's lips curled. "Even if this is real, what makes you think I'll let you win?"

Hope took a step closer. "Because I'm done playing your games. You're not going to push me out of this company."

Victoria's mask cracked, just for a second. Then, she laughed. "Oh, Hope… You really think this little piece of paper is enough to stop me?"

A chill ran down Hope's spine. Victoria was planning something.