Chapter 237
Veronica’s POV
Rollings House – A few days later.
Today Vance came over and brought the list of the jewelry houses who are connected to the vault.
The list was placed before us on the table.
There were five full pages, and most of the current prominent families were in the list.
“The list was sent to the River representative, and then he sent it to me p>
Though I already knew this was a serious matter, so many families were involved..that I was not expecting.
“Let’s begin with the first one.” Jonathan said as he picked the list his mother left for him.
“They were among the first houses to give their assets over to the River’s, and have documented connections as well p>
There were signatures, dates of the day the deed was signed, and description of the assets in the vault.
After checking them all…there was nothing suspicious.
I realized all of the claimants were legit.
“The claim they’ve made is legit.” Jonathan said quietly.
It took us about three hours to verify house by house. Some houses had similar names as the surname was the same, but the brand name was different.
While some families had been inherited by their only daughters so they had changed their father’s name to their husband’s name.
As we cross-referenced house by house, I could see the seriousness of the matter.
Vance also joined in as we compared each record.
Date by date, name by name, content by content.
Each content description was matched line by line, curve by curve.
Every asset was original and precise.
There was no fake claim, that was one thing we were certain of.
At least we weren’t facing anyone posing as an imposter.
If we had to hand over the assets, we would hand over to the legal heirs.
“So far, all of the houses are legit and the current representatives are legal heir to the assets of their family in the vault p>
Both nodded.
Jonathan leaned back as he stared at the stack of notices and records before him.
I knew he was afraid someone might pose as someone who they weren’t.
But thanks to us asking for the list and the one mother left.
We could confirm the houses.
I saw Jonathan’s expression change from tense to relaxed.
I exhaled as I understood.
Now he knew they were legit and no one was an imposter.
“But Jonathan?” I asked him.
“This doesn’t mean we must immediately hand over the assets over to them now that we’ve confirmed it, does it p>
“Every house is legit,” Jonathan said. “But we still need to know who represents the house and if they have the legal rights to inherit it p>
“You do have a point, but I won’t remove the Blue Heart so easily p>
He paused for a brief moment.
“We need to verify every respresentative…separately p>
“Let me compare the old treaty records with the ones the representatives have submitted over these days.” Vance said as he pulled his laptop over.
He checked the succession records, company records, ownership deeds, any agreement made by the family regarding inheritance, and authorization papers.
The process was indeed slow, but the flow was going smoothly.
All houses connected to the River treaty were legit.
I realized the claimants were never the danger for us.
Vance paused as his phone buzzed.
A message popped on his phone.
He slid his phone towards us so we both could read the message from John:
Every old house representative who came to meet Jonathan that day spoke to Alex in person.
John didn’t say Alex organized a meeting.
He didn’t meet them all together.
He met everyone individually.
He communicated with each one for at least an hour and some two.
I studied the list the representative sent me.
The claimants are all legit.
The documents they submitted…are legit.
Yet Alex is the reason they came looking for Jonathan.
The once legal looking demand was changing into something personal.
“He actually spoke to every one p>
I could see from Jonathan’s face, he has realized what Alex is really after.
If the vault is opened the way he wants in front of everyone, then the Blue Heart would also come forward.
Even worse, Alex would know it is the Blue Heart that is the key and not just a gemstone.
The legal old houses would unknowingly become the bait for Alex.
I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized how innocent people would become something they would never be if they knew.
“Opening the vault means telling Alex not only where the Blue Heart is, but also why it’s so valuable p>
“I agree,” I said. “But the vault isn’t only about us p>
“It’s about the old houses who trusted the River family back then p>
“Alex could target them as well p>
“After all, he will know who’s in the vault p>
Jonathan took a look at the files again.
He exhaled.
“For the first time,” Jonathan said in a grave voice.
“I feel the old house representative was not claimants but dependents on me or the River treaty p>
I smiled proudly as I saw Jonathan had found out he was carrying the weight of being the protector of the assets of other families.
“Then that’s what I’ll do.” Jonathan said as he made his decision.
“I’m with you,” I said as I placed my hand on his.
“Count me and John with you,” Vance smiled.
“We won’t access the vault unless it’s the last option p>
“The Blue Heart remains in the Federal vault,” Jonathan continued.
“We won’t demonstrate any authority as the River heirs p>
“No information shall be released that could give anyone a hint of what’s in the vault p>
Me and Vance nodded.
I knew even if the claimants were legal, that alone was not enough as long as Alex is watching us.
I also noticed Jonathan had found the balance between his duty and protecting his family.
Janet coming over got our attention.
“Dad,” she said, handing an envelope to Jonathan.
“This came for you p>
Jonathan took the sealed envelope and opened it.
“It’s from the River representative p>
He froze as he read the letter.
I understood it was grave as his expression had changed.
That’s when my eyes fell on the handwriting.
It was his mother’s.
I felt a mix of curiosity as well as unease.
Jonathan slowly ran his finger over the words.
His expression cleared one thing.
Whatever was written inside was p>
Only for him.