Inheritance Clauses

The boardroom of the Thorne Hotel smelled of ozone and filtered, expensive desperation. Elena Vance sat at the mahogany table, her spine a rigid line against the leather chair. Across from her, Julian Thorne watched with a stillness that felt more predatory than any outburst. Beside him, Marcus, the family’s lead counsel, slid a thick stack of vellum across the polished surface.

“The board has reviewed your recent… situation, Ms. Vance,” Marcus began, his voice devoid of inflection. “They are satisfied with the engagement announcement, but they require ironclad assurance that this union

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