Eleanor immediately challenged the claim.
She had more than Thomas’s medical records.
She had his original correspondence refusing the proposed development.
She had recorded surveys and prior versions of the documents.
She had the handwritten notebook.
And she had the emails showing that Jared and Richard had discussed obtaining access after Thomas’s death.
Most importantly, she had obtained a copy of the document bearing Thomas’s disputed signature.
The signature did not match his authenticated records.
The document’s preparation history also raised questions about when it had actually been created.
Eleanor filed for an injunction to prevent Vale Development Group from relying on the disputed paperwork while its validity was investigated.
I had never been involved in serious litigation.
I hated every minute.
The forms.
The accusations.
The phone calls.
The cold, careful language that turned deeply personal betrayals into numbered paragraphs.
Then Richard’s attorneys raised the possibility that I lacked the financial experience necessary to manage such a valuable property.
