Chapter 17 - THE FAMILY TRUST THAT NEVER ENDED| Martha explained that Anthony Castellano had established a private trust before his supposed death. It was designed to protect certain family assets and provide support for people who had been harmed by the medical center's operations.
At first, the trust had served a legitimate purpose.
Then Anthony discovered that his own business partners were using it to conceal payments and alter records. Rather than expose them, he used the same system to protect himself.
"The trust became a way to control people," Martha said. "Every payment came with a condition. Every favor created a debt."
Adriano stared at the documents.
"And the original trustee?"
Martha hesitated.
"Eleanor Castellano."
"My grandmother?"
Martha nodded.
"She created the trust. After her supposed death, Anthony kept using her name to authorize payments."
Adriano felt anger rise.
"Why did nobody tell me?"
"Because your father believed you would dismantle the system."
"Wouldn't that have been the right thing to do?"
"Yes."
Martha's answer was immediate.
It made the confession worse.
She revealed that Eleanor had survived the illness that supposedly killed her. Anthony had moved her to a private residence and kept her under a different identity, claiming it was necessary to protect her from people who wanted the trust.
Patricia had been hidden for similar reasons.
The family had built an elaborate system of secret guardianships, medical arrangements, and false records to keep control of the people who knew too much.
"Where is my grandmother now?" Adriano asked.
Martha shook her head.
"I don't know."
Nina, who had been listening quietly, looked at the box.
"Then why did someone put the glass back?"
Martha turned toward her.
"Because the glass is a signal."
Adriano frowned.
"What kind of signal?"
Martha pointed to the scratch.
"When the mark faces the chair, the person using the room is supposed to drink. When it faces the window, the drink is not to be touched. It was a warning your grandmother used when she believed someone had tampered with it."
Adriano stared at the glass.
For months, he had been drinking from a tumbler that someone had been turning deliberately. The scratch was not merely an identifying mark.
It was a message.
Someone had been trying to warn him.
"But who?" he asked.
Martha looked at Nina.
"Someone who could not speak to you directly."
Nina frowned.
"Then why didn't they write a note?"
"Because your father searched the house for written messages. He never suspected that someone would use a tiny scratch in a glass."
Adriano looked toward the window.
"Did Eleanor turn the glass?"
Martha shook her head.
"No. She was not allowed near your office."
"Then who?"
Martha took a breath.
"Your grandmother taught Patricia to recognize the signal. Patricia taught it to me. I taught it to another person in the house."
Adriano felt his heart pound.
"Who?"
May you like
Martha's eyes filled with tears.
"Your mother."
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