had curdled the

family library, now a war room-Beatrice was poring

eup, but her eyes were venomous. She held a glass

could hear. "I've been so distracted with the gala planning,

, Elena,"

rty of drawing up some paperwork with our attorneys. It's a medical power of attorney. It will allow me to

legant and deadly. Sign it, and she'd be declared mentally incompetent and ins

In the other life, a similar document had been slid in front o

the folder. She felt the cris

ned to

re a board member now. You should s

id, though her eyes were hu

der. "Grandmother, shouldn't Cristi be more

e muttered, not looki

opened the fo

th to stop it, but no sound came out. If

ting. "The one about 'involuntary psychiatric evaluat

ear knowledgeable, r

protect the signatory and their assets from... erratic behavior..." Her voice trai

went dead

d to her mouth. "Elena... is this a standa

She looked at the clause Cristi was p

was a blatant, documented coup a

Beatrice hissed at Elena

i, who was staring at

"Grandmother, I don't feel safe here

her temples. "Wh

night. And I want my tr

snapped. "Just

look back at the stunned mother and daughter