CHAPTER 10 — THE PRICE OF LOVE
My father lowered the recorder.
“I offered Nathan money because I believed he was using you.”
“You believed correctly,” I said. “Why did you hide it?”
“Because he refused.”
Thomas laughed.
“He did not refuse. He negotiated.”
My father’s expression hardened.
Nathan had asked for twenty million.
Dad had agreed.
But before the transfer was completed, Nathan withdrew from the arrangement.
Not because he loved me.
Because Thomas had approached him with a better offer.
Marriage to me would eventually provide access to my trust, my shares, and Vale Meridian itself.
Thomas had been shaping Nathan long before Celeste arrived.
“Why?” I asked Thomas.
He pressed the weapon more firmly against Dr. Reyes.
“Because Julian inherited a kingdom he did not deserve.”
My father stared at him.
“We built it together.”
“No. Evelyn built it. You became the face. I became the lawyer who cleaned up every problem you created.”
“You murdered her.”
Thomas’s eyes changed.
“Adrian contaminated the fuel. I only made certain the investigation reached the correct conclusion.”
My father took one step forward.
Thomas raised the pistol.
“Do not.”
I watched his grip.
He was focused on my father.
Not me.
“Celeste said Adrian was in control,” I said. “But Adrian was only stealing for you.”
“Adrian needed money. Nathan needed status. Celeste needed survival. Everyone needs something.”
“What did my mother refuse to give you?”
Thomas looked at me.
“Control.”
He had proposed dividing Vale Meridian into private defense, data, and logistics divisions under his legal authority.
My mother discovered that the new structure would allow Thomas to hide contracts, evade oversight, and sell restricted technology.
She planned to expose him.
So he killed her.
Then he spent twelve years remaining beside my grieving father, directing the investigation away from himself.
“You encouraged Dad to keep Adrian close,” I realized.
Thomas smiled.
“Julian always preferred watching threats to eliminating them.”
My father’s face tightened.
Thomas had used his greatest weakness against him.
The lights flickered.
Mercer’s team was entering through the underground tunnel.
Thomas heard something through his earpiece.
He fired toward the darkness.
My father rushed him.
The pistol discharged again.
Dr. Reyes fell sideways.
I grabbed the metal recorder case and struck Thomas’s wrist.
The gun slid across the floor.
Dad drove Thomas into a server rack.
Agents flooded the hall.
For several seconds, there was shouting, movement, and the sharp metallic sound of handcuffs closing.
Dr. Reyes was alive.
The bullet had grazed his shoulder.
Thomas lay on the floor, bleeding from his mouth and smiling.
“You think arresting me saves the company?”
Mercer pulled him upright.
Thomas looked at me.
“Ask Celeste who signed the order for your punishment.”
“Nathan did.”
“No.”
His smile widened.
“Nathan held the whip.”
May you like
The room became silent.
“But the order came from someone else.”
