Page 24 of The Princess and the Fraud

For your reference, I have attached the relevant details regarding your inheritance, as well as a sample legal document, should you wish to proceed accordingly. I would prefer to schedule a meeting to discuss strategy and next steps before your birthday, at your earliest convenience.

Best regards,

Richard G. Peterson

Senior Attorney

Peterson, Wallace & Co. LLP

As I’d read, a frown formed on my face.A specific condition must be met by this date in order for you to receive your full inheritance.Well, if that wasn’t vague, I didn’t know what was. Did all lawyers talk so ominously, or just the ones the rich hired? The email was written as if Aaron would know exactly what this Richard Peterson meant, though, designed so that the average glancer wouldn’t.

AKA a snooping housekeeper.

I didn’t even hesitate this time; I flipped the page.

The print was much smaller. I squinted, leaning closer.

PREMARITAL AGREEMENT DRAFT

This Premarital Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into on [Date], by and between Aaron Astor (“Party A”) and [Future Spouse’s Name] (“Party B”), in contemplation of their upcoming marriage.

Legal jargon went over my head—I was a former musician, not a lawyer—but I could at least understand the first paragraph.Aaron Astor and [Future Spouse’s Name]? He had a prenup drafted, but hadn’t put in Fiona’s name? Annalise said that Aaron was here to marry, and that he and Fiona were better suited for each other, but were they even that serious? If they’d only started talking in January, then surely not—if so, Mrs. Flannagan would have been bragging up that her daughter was engaged to the son of the biggest travel agency in the country. And why was a prenup attached to an email about his inheritance?

The prenup went on for two more pages, and I skimmed them. When I flipped to the third, I expected another paragraph regarding marital assets, but was instead surprised with the headerSegments of your grandmother’s will as it relates to you.

I bequeath the sum of $5 million to my grandson, Aaron James Astor, on the condition that he enters into a lawful marriage by his 26th birthday. Should Aaron fail to marry by this date, this bequest shall lapse, and the funds shall be distributed to the next alternate beneficiary as specified herein.

Oh, noway.

Aaron’s grandmother left him five million dollars, as long as he got married by his 26thbirthday—which was in less than a month.

Thatwas why he was here to get married.

Caroline had been right; it was the Margot situation all over again.

I couldn’t help it. I laughed aloud. What in the soap opera was this?

Really, though, was it worth it to marryherfor five million dollars? I mean, sure, Fiona was wealthy in her own right—her parents owned vineyards in France and had dozens of high-end overseas wineries—but she wasn’t exactly a ray of sunshine. Had Aaron fallen for the ditzy charm, or was she just the easiest to convince?

Or manipulate?

When I went to set the papers back down, I noticed that it’d been covering the notepad that accompanied every hotel room. Ink printed its surface by a steady hand, the handwriting cleaner than mine, consistent and crisp enough that it almost looked printed by a copier.

Fiona Flannagan. 27, sole heir of Flannagan Vineyards. Enjoys talking about herself, being complimented. Eagerly talks about marriage. Perfect candidate.

Scrunching my nose, I picked up the notepad, but there was nothing beneath the top page. I’d come this far in snooping; I wouldn’t stop there. I crouched down to peek into the trash, finding neatly creased up pieces in the otherwise empty plastic bin. I unfolded one carefully, finding another paper with that clean scrawl.

Timeline:

Meet – check

Build in person rapport

Physical contact

Propose

I frowned at the rapid evolution of this proposed relationship. The next paper only had one sentence.

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