Chapter 12 - THE FORGED SILENCE
That afternoon, Julian, Maya, and Sarah arrived at the private arbitral chamber on the city’s upper west side.
Richard Sterling sat across the mahogany conference table, flanked by three high-priced corporate defense attorneys. Richard bore a striking resemblance to Marcus—sharp-featured, arrogant, and accustomed to buying his way out of every corner.
"Julian," Richard greeted with a thin, patronizing smile. "And little Maya. It’s unfortunate we have to meet under such legal unpleasantness."
"Cut the act, Richard," Julian warned, sitting down opposite him. "Show me this so-called agreement."
Richard slid a single sheet of aged paper across the polished table. It was a release form dated two years ago, bearing Elena Vane’s signature in fading blue ink, waiving all rights to her private journals, sheet music, and unreleased master tapes.
Maya stared at the signature. It looked remarkably authentic—the slanted E, the delicate flourish on the V.
"Mother was in the hospital two years ago for her first round of treatment," Maya whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "She was weak... but she never signed away her music."
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"The document is notarized and witnessed by our firm’s former notary," Richard said smugly, tapping the paper. "Unless you can prove fraud beyond a shadow of a doubt in forty-eight hours, the court will freeze the Foundation's assets and impound all of Elena's original scores."
Julian reached over, placing his hand over Maya's trembling fingers. "We have forty-eight hours, Richard. That’s more than enough time to ruin you."
