Chapter 10
Chapter 10
The Trial of Solmere
The rain fell harder over the old Vale cemetery.
Charlotte stood frozen.
The woman standing before her was impossible.
A ghost from the past.
A person everyone believed had disappeared forever.
"You're dead."
Charlotte whispered.
The woman lowered her eyes.
"I wanted to be."
Charlotte felt the anger rise inside her.
Not because the woman survived.
Because she hid.
"For years..."
Charlotte's voice shook.
"For years everyone thought you were gone."
The woman looked at the old family graves.
"I know."
"Do you know what happened after you disappeared?"
A painful silence.
"My family was destroyed."
The woman's eyes filled with tears.
"I know."
Charlotte stepped closer.
"Then why?"
The woman looked at her.
"Because if I came back..."
A pause.
"Richard would have killed you."
The name changed the atmosphere.
Richard.
The man who stole Solmere.
The man who erased Charlotte.
The man who convinced the world he was the rightful owner.
Charlotte crossed her arms.
"Everyone has an excuse."
Her voice became colder.
"Everyone was protecting me."
"But somehow, I lost everything."
The woman accepted the accusation.
"You have every right to hate me."
"Who are you?"
Charlotte asked.
The woman took a breath.
"My name is Amelia Vale."
Alexander Vale's sister.
The forgotten member of the family.
The woman who knew every secret.
Charlotte stared.
"Why did my mother trust you?"
Amelia looked away.
"Because Evelyn knew I was the only person Richard could not control."
"Then why did she say the traitor was family?"
Amelia closed her eyes.
"Because she was right."
Charlotte waited.
"Who?"
Amelia looked directly at her.
"Your grandfather."
The words were impossible.
Charlotte froze.
"My grandfather died before I was born."
"Yes."
Amelia said quietly.
"But before he died, he made a decision that changed everything."
The next morning, the world woke up to the biggest legal battle in Solmere history.
The trial began.
Not a criminal trial.
Not yet.
A battle over ownership.
A battle over legacy.
A battle over the future of one of the world's largest luxury empires.
The courtroom was filled.
Reporters.
Investors.
Former employees.
Everyone wanted to see one thing.
Would Charlotte Vale lose Solmere forever?
On one side:
Richard Ashford.
Confident.
Calm.
Perfectly dressed.
On the other:
Charlotte Vale.
The woman everyone thought was powerless.
The judge entered.
Everyone stood.
The trial began.
Richard's lawyer stood first.
"Your Honor, this case is simple."
He turned toward Charlotte.
"My client has managed Solmere for years."
"He protected the company."
"He maintained its value."
"And the person claiming ownership has no biological connection to the Vale family."
The courtroom reacted.
Charlotte remained silent.
She expected this.
Richard had one weapon.
Her identity.
The lawyer continued.
"Miss Vale was adopted."
"She was never the biological heir."
"She cannot claim a company based on a name that was given to her."
Charlotte looked toward the audience.
People were watching.
Judging.
Again.
Just like the hotel lobby.
But this time she was not alone.
Her lawyer stood.
"Your Honor, the opposing side continues to focus on blood."
"But the Vale succession agreement clearly states the opposite."
He presented documents.
"Alexander Vale intentionally created a legal inheritance structure."
"One based on choice, not genetics."
The judge examined the papers.
Richard remained expressionless.
Too calm.
Charlotte noticed.
He expected this.
Which meant...
He had another move.
The courtroom continued.
Witnesses appeared.
Former employees.
Board members.
Legal experts.
Then Richard called his first major witness.
Charlotte's heart stopped.
Martin Cole.
The man who helped raise her.
The man who knew the truth.
The courtroom became silent.
Martin sat down.
Richard's lawyer approached.
"Mr. Cole."
"How long have you known Charlotte Vale?"
"Since she was a child."
"And did you know she was adopted?"
Martin looked at Charlotte.
"Yes."
The room reacted.
"Did Alexander Vale tell you she would inherit Solmere?"
Martin hesitated.
"No."
Charlotte's expression changed.
"What?"
Richard's lawyer smiled.
"Please continue."
Martin looked down.
"Alexander never said Charlotte would automatically inherit."
The courtroom became louder.
Richard's side smiled.
They thought they had won.
But Charlotte noticed something.
Martin was not lying.
He was hiding something.
The lawyer continued.
"So there was no guarantee?"
Martin answered:
"No."
Richard leaned back.
Satisfied.
Then Charlotte's lawyer stood.
"Mr. Cole."
"Do you remember the final conversation you had with Alexander Vale?"
Martin froze.
Richard looked up.
"Objection."
The judge looked at the lawyer.
"On what grounds?"
"Private conversation."
The judge considered.
"Overruled."
Martin swallowed.
"Yes."
"What did Alexander say?"
Martin looked at Charlotte.
Then he spoke.
"He said..."
A pause.
"Solmere does not belong to the person who inherits it."
Everyone listened.
"He said Solmere belongs to the person who protects it."
Charlotte felt her heart tighten.
Her father.
Even after death.
He was still defending her.
Richard's lawyer stood.
"But Mr. Cole..."
"You also helped Richard Ashford access company information."
The courtroom became silent.
Charlotte looked shocked.
Martin closed his eyes.
"Yes."
"You helped him?"
"Yes."
Richard smiled.
Finally.
The perfect distraction.
Then Martin continued.
"But I did it because Alexander ordered me to."
The smile disappeared from Richard's face.
The courtroom erupted.
The judge demanded silence.
"Explain."
Martin looked at Richard.
"Alexander knew Richard was dangerous."
"He knew Richard wanted Solmere."
"So he told me to stay close."
"To watch him."
Richard's expression changed.
Because for the first time...
The plan was turning against him.
Martin continued.
"I was not Richard's ally."
"I was his shadow."
Charlotte finally understood.
Martin had not betrayed the family.
He had sacrificed his reputation.
Richard stood suddenly.
"This is ridiculous."
But his voice had changed.
The confidence was gone.
Then the courtroom doors opened.
Everyone turned.
Amelia Vale entered.
The woman who had disappeared for decades.
The room exploded with whispers.
Richard went completely still.
Because he knew.
She was the one person who could destroy everything.
Amelia walked toward the witness stand.
The judge stared.
"Identify yourself."
She answered calmly.
"Amelia Vale."
The courtroom froze.
Richard's lawyer stood.
"Your Honor, this woman cannot be trusted."
Amelia looked at him.
"Of course not."
A pause.
"Because I know the truth."
She turned toward Richard.
"The truth about how you stole Solmere."
Richard finally lost control.
"She has no evidence."
Amelia smiled sadly.
"I do."
She held up a small envelope.
"Everything."
Inside:
Original contracts.
Hidden recordings.
Private communications.
Proof that Richard manipulated the board.
Changed ownership records.
And planned to erase Charlotte's identity.
The courtroom became chaos.
Richard stared at the evidence.
For the first time...
He looked afraid.
But then he smiled.
A small smile.
Because Richard Ashford was not a man who lost easily.
He leaned toward his lawyer.
And whispered something.
Charlotte noticed.
Something was wrong.
Because even with all the evidence...
Richard looked confident again.
Why?
Then her phone vibrated.
A message.
Unknown number.
Charlotte opened it.
Only one sentence.
You are fighting Richard because you think he stole Solmere.
You are wrong.
A second message appeared.
Richard was only protecting the real owner.
Charlotte's face changed.
She slowly looked toward the courtroom.
Toward the person Richard had been protecting.
And realized...
The trial was never about proving who owned Solmere.
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It was about discovering who had truly controlled it from the beginning.
To be continued...
