Chapter 13 - BEATRICE’S ROLE
Beatrice Vance was not indicted with Arthur immediately.
That angered people who had seen her toast Chloe over my body.
But federal charges require evidence.
Her role in Project Succession was harder to define.
She attended family-office meetings.
Received emails.
Encouraged Julian’s affair.
Managed Chloe socially.
Knew the “Mercer consent problem.”
Did she know the signature was forged?
One email suggested concern:
Beatrice:
Clara never signs anything without Sloan.
Arthur:
This is covered.
Beatrice:
By what?
Arthur:
Julian.
Not enough.
Another:
Beatrice:
If Clara learns North Crest is Arthur’s, she will block.
That showed knowledge of undisclosed conflict.
Then:
Julian:
Need Mom to keep Chloe calm until 2.
Beatrice:
Leave her to me.
Control of Chloe.
Potential coercion.
Still distinct from bank fraud.
Prosecutors eventually charged Beatrice with obstruction and conspiracy tied to witness manipulation after evidence showed she instructed staff to delete guesthouse access logs and told Chloe to destroy messages.
Not full bank-fraud leadership.
Roles matter.
She surrendered through counsel.
No dawn raid.
At her hearing, she looked at me from across the corridor.
We had not spoken since the ballroom.
Her eyes went to Evelyn’s car seat.
I had brought Evelyn only because childcare fell through? No. Better: I would never bring infant to court unnecessarily. I was alone. Beatrice had no access.
She mouthed:
I’m sorry.
I looked away.
Later she sent a letter.
Rachel screened it.
First paragraph:
I lost my mind when Julian told me Chloe carried a son.
Discard.
Not apology.
Second:
I believed Clara’s daughter would take the Mercer side away from our family.
Interesting.
She thought Evelyn belonged to another “side.”
Third:
I should never have applauded.
True.
Fourth:
Arthur told me the financial paperwork was legal.
Maybe.
We stored it.
No reply.
Beatrice negotiated a plea months later to obstruction and a narrower conspiracy count.
Home confinement plus probation became possible due age and lesser role.
But she also faced civil liability to Chloe for coercive confinement-related conduct.
One family.
May you like
Different cases.
No single courtroom solves everything.
