Chapter 7 Lauren's still alive

She argued for years about it, even moving herself into the manor that was given to Victoria and David as a wedding present. Lauren grew up in another city with her aunt and grandparents. Her mom's parents had been devastated when they learned their daughter died. They agreed the accident was too fishy. They let Valerie continue her lies until Lauren was old enough to take care of herself, only living nearby to throw Valerie off the idea that Lauren may still be alive. Fortunately, both sets of her grandparents had not trusted Valerie after the stunts she had pulled.

Lauren living with her aunt kept her out of the spotlight and helped her hide a very important secret.

The day after Lauren's 18th birthday, her parents will was opened. Lauren had to appear in person to read it. If course, since Valerie was claiming she was Victoria, she claimed Victoria's will was invalid as she wasn't dead. So she sent Kaitlyn as Lauren to get David's property as well. Since the girls mothers were identical twins, and they had the same father, the girls looked exactly alike. What they didn't know was that Victoria and David were always on guard against Valerie. She didn't know that Lauren had a small birthmark that Kaitlyn didn't have. So when Valerie and Kaitlyn appeared as Victoria and Lauren, the lawyer read that everything belonging to Victoria and David now belongs to Lauren.

"You mean everything belonging to David belongs to Lauren. I'm Victoria, and still very much alive," she smirked at the lawyer.

Finally, she and her daughter would get everything they deserved.

"Maybe," was the lawyer's response. He read all 15 pages of their wills.

Bank accounts, investments, property, and companies, all go to Lauren. Only the house David gave to Valerie to raise her daughter in was passed on to Kaitlyn.

"Only David's stuff goes to Lauren. I'm keeping my own property," Valerie said again.

"The decedents left 2 forms of verification that you must prove before anyone gets anything. The first is to confirm that Lauren is truly the right heir. Miss Lauren, can you show me the birthmark on your left shoulder?" the lawyer asked.

Valerie looks at Kaitlyn in shock. She doesn't have a birthmark. In fact, no one ever mentioned a birth mark on Lauren before.

"Good grief, why do I need a birthmark to prove who I am?" Kaitlyn grumbled.

She also was shocked to hear Lauren had a specific birthmark.

"The birthmark faded as she grew up. It's not there anymore," was the only thing Valerie could think of.

"I guess it's possible. Then I need Lauren's fingerprints to confirm her identity. And yours as well, Mrs Short," the lawyer tells them.

Valerie sneered at that. They were identical twins. Even the prints on their birth certificates were identical. Valerie got a copy of the originals just to see if that was possible. Plus, she wasn't sure which of them was the elder twin. Turned out it was Victoria. Valerie did her fingerprints, trying to buy time to get around Lauren's verification.

'This isn't right' Valerie thinks. 'Kaitlyn was his daughter, too. Why does Lauren get everything, and Kaitlyn gets nothing. Her father wouldn't even look at her. Just sent a check for a measly 5 grand a month. The guy was loaded, and he paid 5 grand a month in child support'. The lawyer came back from the fingerprint verification.

"As I said before, Ms Bridge, Lauren will receive all of Victoria Harrington and David Short's estate as soon as her identity is confirmed," the lawyer sat down and waited for the inevitable explosion.

"I keep telling you, I'm Victoria," Valerie is getting angry. Even if she can't confirm that Kaitlyn is Lauren, Victoria's property alone should be enough to live well for the rest of their lives.

"Not according to the fingerprints. You see, when Victoria wrote her will, she suspected she wouldn't have a natural death. She has copies of your original birth certificates. She examined them a little more thoroughly than you did. The prints are almost identical, except for one spot on the left pinky. She even highlighted it here on the birth certificate. One whorl goes the opposite direction of the other print on the certificate," the lawyer hands her both copies and a magnifying glass.

Valerie looks closely at the marked spot. Sure enough, Victoria's went left while Valerie's went right. They couldn't even claim to have been mixed up at birth, because Victoria knew it was her print that went the other way.

"Now that you know I can prove you aren't who you claim to be, it's time for you to relinquish the properties you have commandeered. The Manor, the company, and the store your daughter pretends to run are to be returned to their rightful owner, Lauren Short in 5 days. The rightful heir has already proven her identity as of this morning. She says you don't have to pay back all the money you've taken if you do. Otherwise, she'll take you to court to reclaim everything, including the millions you've already spent," the lawyer informed them.

Valerie didn't register his words right away. She was too focused on him saying he could prove she wasn't Victoria.

"What do you mean by Lauren's identity was already proven? She died 13 years ago," Kaitlyn asked in confusion.

Valerie snapped out of her daze when Kaitlyn spoke. She rewound the lawyer's words in her head. He said Lauren's identity was already proven.

"Yes, Ms Bridge. Lauren short was here earlier today, as well as both the elder Harringtons and the elder Shorts. She has the birthmark and the fingerprints are a match. Therefore, she is the rightful heir of both estates," the lawyer grinned.

"This must be a trick. Lauren died in the same accident my husband and sister died in," Valerie said.

The lawyer looked at Valerie in disgust.

"Maybe its just a habit for you to claim yourself as Victoria. Maybe you don't believe in the evidence in front of you. Whatever your reason, I suggest you both stop playing this 'I'm the right person' game you started. The truth is, you are Valerie Bridge. She is Kaitlyn Bridge. Lauren Short did not die in the accident 13 years ago. She was kept hidden by her grandparents due their fear harm would come to her," the lawyer sternly told them.