Chapter 2: The Anatomy of a Lie

Mr. Halden continued, his cadence steady, driving each syllable into the heavy air like a steel nail into polished oak.

“…I leave the entirety of my personal estate, including my private capital, the life insurance disbursements, the coastal property at Lake Arden, and my controlling shares in ValeTech Holdings.

These assets are to be transferred to my mother, Margaret Ellis, granting her sole authority to manage them through the newly established Ellis Family Trust.”