Chapter 10 - Susan Chooses Herself
Susan’s attorney requested proffer.
She wanted reduced sentence.
In exchange:
Truth.
Documents.
Passwords.
Blue Heron records.
Testimony.
I was not asked permission.
Good.
Prosecutors decide.
Susan admitted she knew trust money belonged to me.
Since 2015 at latest.
She knew Richard had broad access that Grandma disputed.
She witnessed two signatures she did not see signed.
She approved Blue Heron transfers.
She accepted benefits.
She also admitted helping create fake scholarship reduction email.
That one hurt.
She designed message.
Why?
“Richard said Chloe would question him if scholarship vanished.”
So they gave me enough to make lie believable.
Susan typed:
Due to market losses...
Then emailed from family domain.
I worked weekends because she clicked send.
She knew.
Then why funeral laugh?
She said:
“I hated Chloe.”
Direct.
“Why?”
“Richard compared us.”
What?
He told Susan:
“Chloe is younger and still gets attention.”
He used daughter against wife too.
Susan saw me as rival.
When Grandma sided with me, Susan felt excluded.
Then Tyler.
She wanted her son to have “equal start.”
She believed my trust made me privileged.
Instead of asking Richard fund Tyler separately, she justified taking.
“Chloe already had millions.”
I did not know.
Then:
“She had Grandma.”
Susan said.
That was not money.
It was jealousy.
Then she admitted the funeral.
Richard knew passbook referenced trust.
He wanted destroy.
Why throw grave instead of pocket?
Witnesses.
He wanted make me believe worthless and leave it.
He assumed it would be buried under dirt.
Susan knew.
Tyler did not.
She laughed because plan appeared successful.
Cold.
Then current bank access attempt.
Richard tried login from home morning after funeral.
Susan was beside.
He said:
“If Chloe dug it up, she may go bank.”
He tried move remaining accessible funds.
Fraud restriction stopped.
Susan knew.
Then her plea.
Charges reduced but serious.
She would plead guilty to conspiracy to commit theft and identity fraud, plus elder financial exploitation facilitation.
Agreed forfeiture of her 30% Blue Heron interest where traceable, jewelry/condo proceeds? Assets subject.
Restitution.
Recommendation 30 to 42 months incarceration due cooperation.
Not no prison.
She accepted.
Tyler was devastated.
But he said:
“She chose.”
Yes.
Then Susan asked through lawyer to apologize to me.
I declined.
Not ready.
Her testimony could convict Richard.
He responded by filing for divorce.
He accused her betrayal.
She laughed according to attorney.
Marriage had been alliance.
Then Richard tried to contact Tyler repeatedly.
Tyler answered once.
“Your mother is lying.”
“Which mother?”
Tyler asked.
Richard:
“Susan.”
Tyler:
“She’s my mother.”
Richard:
“You know what I mean.”
Then:
“Chloe is going to take everything.”
Tyler:
“Dad, it was hers.”
Richard shouted.
“The trust exists because of my family!”
Tyler:
“Grandpa Frank was your dad too. He wrote rules.”
Richard:
“You don’t understand.”
There.
Always.
Then:
“Come home.”
“No.”
“You live with Chloe now?”
Temporary.
“Sometimes.”
Richard:
“She’ll turn you into nothing.”
Tyler:
“You did a pretty good job.”
He hung.
I did not celebrate.
Their relationship breaking hurt.
Then Tyler decided to finish degree he actually wanted.
Graphic design.
He withdrew from father’s business.
Moved to smaller apartment.
Paid own.
No heroic poverty.
He still had legitimate gifts and some inheritance from Susan maybe later.
But he chose.
Then Grandma’s funeral.
I realized we had never placed headstone because cemetery process.
The passbook had been in grave briefly, but casket closed/lowered later. We retrieved before final fill. Her grave now settled.
I visited.
Placed flowers.
“I found it.”
Wind.
Nothing.
Then:
“You should have told me.”
I said aloud.
“I would have believed you.”
Would I?
At seventeen maybe Richard had strong control.
Maybe not.
I cried.
Then:
“I’m still mad.”
Love and anger.
Grandma would allow.
Then Amelia called.
“Trial date set.”
Richard had rejected every plea.
He wanted jury.
The prosecution planned first exhibit not the millions.
May you like
The blue passbook.
Because physical object explained entire story.
