He got up from his chair and walked over to the small oak bookcase by the window.

“Your father knew that if he fought Victoria in open divorce court while he was dying, she’d tie up Sterling Construction in litigation for years.”

“So he let her think she’d won,” I said.

“He let her spend her own money trying to keep up a lifestyle she couldn’t afford,” Vance said, turning back to face me.

“He waited until every legal window for her to challenge the trust had closed.

Your father wasn’t tired, Avery.