Chapter 10: The Legacy War

Clara called an emergency board meeting.

Vivienne and Marcus looked alarmed but supportive. The boardroom buzzed with quiet confusion as members filed in. Adam sat across from her, calm but cold.

"This meeting," Clara began, "is to address an incident from over two decades ago that changed the course of this family's future—and mine."

She pulled out a flash drive and plugged it into the projector.

Audio from Rosalind's interview played: her confession, her warnings, her naming of the Lockwood uncle responsible for the switch—Adam's father, Charles Lockwood.

The room went still.

Murmurs broke out.

"You have no proof," Adam said, rising from his chair.

"I do," Clara countered. "Hospital records. Staff testimonies. Hidden documents filed under false names. All of it will be submitted to the police."

"You'll destroy the Lockwood name."

"No," she said, looking around the table. "I'll save it. The legacy should have never been built on a lie."

Marcus stood slowly, eyes full of grief.

"I always knew there was something we weren't being told," he said. "If Charles did this—he dishonored us all."

Vivienne touched Clara's shoulder. "You've done what none of us could. We never thought of it.You brought the truth home."

The board voted unanimously: Charles Lockwood's shares would be dissolved, and Clara would officially be named primary heir and successor CEO.

Adam stormed ou

t, leaving silence in his wake.