Chapter 14 - Margaret’s Counterattack
Margaret arrived at family court wearing pearls and a conservative black suit.
She looked nothing like the woman from the staircase video.
She looked fragile.
That was intentional.
Her attorney described Daniel as volatile.
“He physically assaulted his sixty-three-year-old mother.”
Daniel didn't deny it.
His attorney didn't excuse it.
“Yes,” Rebecca said. “Mr. Carter struck Margaret Carter once after witnessing what happened to his child. He regrets losing control.”
Margaret watched Daniel carefully.
She wanted anger.
He gave her none.
Then the foyer footage played.
The courtroom fell silent.
Noah appeared near the stairs.
Margaret approached.
Her body moved.
Noah fell.
Daniel entered seconds later.
Even without clear audio, the sequence was devastating.
Then prosecutors produced synchronized audio from the mansion's security system.
Margaret’s voice filled the courtroom.
“Get out of my house, you filthy bastard!”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
Hearing it again hurt worse than he expected.
Margaret’s attorney argued the contact had been accidental.
Then Rebecca introduced Margaret’s police interview.
She had initially claimed Noah tripped before she reached him.
The video contradicted her.
Next came the original DNA record showing Margaret had requested a certified copy eighteen months earlier.
Rebecca asked:
“If Mrs. Carter already knew Noah was Daniel’s biological child, why did she repeatedly call him illegitimate?”
Margaret finally lost composure.
“That has nothing to do with custody!”
Rebecca turned.
“It has everything to do with motive.”
The judge denied Margaret’s petition.
The protective order remained.
Daniel should have felt victorious.
Instead, Margaret smiled while leaving the courtroom.
That bothered him.
Outside, Rebecca received an urgent call from the forensic accounting team.
Someone had initiated transfers from three overseas accounts.
Frozen funds connected to the Lucas trust were being moved.
Rebecca stared at Daniel.
“She's trying to empty everything.”
“Can she?”
“She shouldn't be able to.”
“Then who can?”
Rebecca's expression hardened.
“Someone at Carter Holdings is still helping her.”
Margaret wasn't finished.
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She still had an ally inside Daniel’s company.
And whoever it was had access to millions.
